GB2583447A

GB2583447A - Egress easy-clean stay with safe operation

Info

Publication number: GB2583447A
Application number: GB1902983.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Smith Clive
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-06
Filing date: 2019-03-06
Publication date: 2020-11-04
Also published as: GB201902983D0

Abstract

Discloses a window stay comprising a track member 10 that attaches to a frame 31 and a sash arm 11 that attaches to a sash 30. There are at least two slide carriages 12, 14 that move along the track and a configuration mechanism 15 that selectively engages the carriages in a manner that restricts movement of the carriages to achieve egress or easy-clean opening modes. There is ideally a third track members 13. The configuration mechanism may be rotated to engage slide carriages (see fig.2a-b) and is operated at one end of the track on a locking side of the sash, the configuration mechanism runs along the length of the track and engages with the slide carriages using tabs (fig.2a, 26). Linkages ideally achieve a 90-degree egress. The stay may be able to enter easy-clean mode without having to fully open to egress mode. Easy-clean opening may be achieved using the handle opposed to manually pushing the sash at its top and bottom.

Description

EGRESS EASY-CLEAN STAY WITH SAFE OPPERATION

The present invention relates to a stay, and particularly, but not exclusively to an egress stay.

In a conventional friction stay there is provided a main bar / sash arm which is normally fixed to a window or other movable leaf, pivotally interconnected to other stay members running on a track and to at least one carriage member mounted in the track. In the closed position of the stay the main bar and other stay members overlay the track. To open the window, the main bar / sash arm movers pivotally outwards away from the plane of track and is supported at an angle to the track by other stay members. Typically i S the other stay members include a long arm which extends from the main bar / sash arm to a fixed pivot towards the bottom end of the track, together with other links that are pivotally connected to the carriage members which moves along the track as the stay is opened.

Conventional stays of this type typically allow opening of the window to angles of 60 deg. To 70 deg. However it has now been recognised that particularly in side hung applications opening angles of 90 deg. are desirable for fire egress applications.

EP-B-0294980 discloses one example of such an egress hinge. In this design the rear link, which in conventional stays typically has a fixed point on the track, is instead mounted to a second carriage member which moves up along the track as the stay is opened. The movement of the first carriage member is limited at its uppermost extreme by appropriately positions stops in the track. A disadvantage of this type of design is that the outside surface of the sash is not readily accessible from the inside for cleaning. Subsequent designs have sought to overcome this by allowing the first and second carriage members to be configured and fixed independently to allow for Egress and cleaning independently. All such designs rely on the sash to be physical pushed or slid across when the window is in the fully egress mode. The physical movement causes the sash to rack and sometimes stick, combined with the large clear opening presented in front of the operator CEO making the operation difficult and unsafe. All current configuration devices are located within the extremes of the linkages.

According to the present invention, there is provided a stay comprising: a track: at least two carriage members mounted for movement along the track: SO a plurality of stay members pivotally interconnected to each other and to the carriage members and arranged to support a I c 4-S window or other movable leaf for pivotal movement out of the plane of the track: and, a rotatable configuration bar that engages with two of the carriage members to restrict the movement of one or the other when rotated approx. 90 deg. It is operated outside the track member at the end nearest to the locking side of the sash, therefor io making it easier to configure the hinge as the window only has to be fractionally open to access the mechanism.

The window can be opened and closed to both egress and easy clean by pushing or pulling the sash at the handle side, 16 eliminating the racking effect of the sash when having to be manually slid across by the operator to the easy-clean position associated with the operation of current egress easy-clean hinges.

Due to the unique position of the configuration mechanism the hinge can be configure with minimal opening of the sash which eliminates the necessity to fully open the hinge to egress to configure to the easy-clean mode and therefore the operator is not presented with a large clear opening, which is unsafe.

2S The hinge will automatically reset the rotatable configuration bar when closing the sash. The sash will open to egress next time it is open.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in 3o more detail, with reference to accompanying drawings to include: Figs. la, lb and lc show the arrangement in fully open egress, fully open in easy-clean and intermediate towards the egress.

Fig 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d show configuration bar in egress and easy-clean mode.

Principle Components and Connections.

Reference to Figures la, lb and lc allows the principle components of the illustrated stay arrangement, and the connections between them to be described. Figure la shows the stay fully open in the egress mode, Figure lb shows the stay fully open in the easy-clean 4-5 mode and Figure lc shows the stay in an intermediate position towards egress.

The arrangement includes a sash arm 11 which is fixed to a sash 30. The sash is to be mounted for opening and closing to a frame 31 by means of stay arrangement to be described.

The track 10 is mounted in use to the frame 31. The track 10 carries carriage members 12, 13 and 14 which can slide along the track 10 subject to constraints to be described, as the sash 30 moves relative to frame 31.

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Link 16 is pivotally connected at 23 to carriage member 12 Link 16 is also pivotally connected at 22 to link 17. Link 16 is also pivotally connected at 21 to link 18.

One end of Link 17 is pivotally connected at 24 to carriage member 13.

The other end of link 17 is pivotally connected at 19 to link 11. Link 18 is pivotally connected at 25 to carriage member 14. The other end of link 18 is pivotally connected at 20 to link 11.

Opening and operation. Reference to Figure la.

Assume that carriage member 12 is restricted in movement along track 10. Method of restricting movement of carriage member 12 to be described later.

When pushing the sash 30, which is fixed to link 11 it will result in the rotation of the linksl6, 17 and 18. Carriage members 13 and 14 will travel along the track member 10 towards carriage member 12.

Movement is restricted when carriage members 12, 13 and 14 bottom out.

This will determined the opening angle and finishing position of the sash 30, ideally 90 degrees from it starting position to give maximum egress.

With this configuration the sash 30 is moved to a position behind the frame 31 to provide maximum clear opening.

Reference to Figure lb. Assume that slide 14 is restricted in movement along track 10. Method of restricting movement of carriage member 14 to be described later.

When pushing the sash 30, which is fixed to link 11 it will result in the rotation of the links 16, 17 and 18. Carriage members 12 and 13 will travel along the track towards carriage member 14.

Movement is restricted when carriage members 12, 13 and 14 bottom out.

This will determined the opening angle and finishing position of the sash 30, ideally 90 degrees from it starting position.

With the sash in this position access to the outside of the sash can be gained for cleaning, referred to as easy-clean.

Reference to Figure lc.

Figure lc is purely for clarity, to show the hinge mechanism when I it) approximately half way open in the egress mode.

Configuration of the mechanism for Egress opening. Reference to Figure 2a There is provided a configuration bar 15 that sits within channel 10, ideally but not essentially running down the complete length of Channel 10. The bar is ideally circular in section and allowed to rotate. Other section could be considered.

Along the length of the configuration bar 15 there is provided a tab 26. The tab 26 engages in a cut-out 28 provided in carriage member 12.

When tab 26 is engage in cut-out 28, carriage member 12 is restricted in movement along channel 10 in directions indicated 'X' -Reference to Figure 2b.

This view show configuration bar 15 after being rotated by approximately 90 degrees from that shown in figure 2a. The tab 26 is now clear of interference with cut-out 28 provided in carriage member 12. The carriage member 12 is now free to slide within the channel 10 in directions 'X' -'X' Configuration of mechanism for easy-clean opening Reference to figure 2c.

This view shows configuration bar 15 has provided a tab 27 that is engaged in a cut out 29 provided in carriage member 14. In this position the other end of configuration bar 15 is disengaged from carriage member 12 as shown and described previously, with reference to Figure 2b.

When in this position carriage member 14 is restricted in movement along track item 10 in direction 'X'-'X'. zs Se

Reference to figure 2d.

This view shows configuration bar 15 with the tab 27 disengaged from cut-out 29 provided in carriage member 14. Carriage member 14 has unrestricted free movement in direction of 'X' -'X'. This is the normal position with carriage member 12 fixed as described previously, with reference to Figure 2a.

Configuration bar 15 has provided tabs 26 and 27 that engage with cut outs 28 and 29 respectively to restrict movement of carriage members 12 and 14 respectively. With the rotation of configuration bar 15 it will restrict either carriage member 12 or carriage member 14. One or the other will be free to move. Both carriage members cannot be fixed and both carriage members cannot move at the same time.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A stay comprising: a track member for attachment to a frame; a link member for attachment to a sash; at least two slide carriage members, but ideally three carriage members, which in uses are free to move along the track member; a configuration mechanism that engages in either the first or last carriage member to restrict sliding movement of one or the other to achieve egress or easy-clean opening.
2. A stay arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the configuration mechanism is rotatable and operated outside the extremes of the linkages at one end of the track, at the nearest end to the sash locking side.
3. A stay arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the configuration mechanism is located within the track and ideally runs 2-5 along the whole length of the track but should at least be of sufficient length to engage with the first and last carriage member.
4. A stay arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the configuration mechanism has at least two protrusions sufficient to engage with the first and last carriage members.
5. A stay arrangement according to claim1, wherein the linkages are arranged uniquely as described to achieve the maximum clear egress opening when the first carriage is restricted in sliding movement along the track by the configuration mechanism.
4-0 6. A stay arrangement according to claim 1, that when configuring to easy-clean the sash does not have to be fully open to egress.et-S 7. A stay arrangement according to claim 1, that when opening to easy-clean the sash does not have to be manually pushed across at the top and bottom.
So 8. A stay arrangement according to claim 1, where egress and easy-dean can be achieved by pushing the sash at the handle side of the sash. io
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9. A stay arrangement substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.