GB2280475A - Window stay - Google Patents

Abstract

A number of arrangements are described for limiting the movement of the base of a stay away from the window frame, if an attempt is made to force the frame. In one embodiment an upstanding member 15 carries a cylindrical projection 16 which extends away from and generally parallel to the base member 11 for location in an aperture 17 formed in the frame. In other embodiments a projection (34, fig. 5) on the frame may be slidingly received in an aperture on the upstanding member 15 or in a cap located thereon. In a still further arrangement the upstanding member 15 may be received within a cap (25, fig. 4a) which limits its vertical and lateral movement but which allows restricted movement along the longitudinal axis of the base 11. Also disclosed is a cut-out 21 formed in a profiled end 19 of an arm 12. The cut-out 21 engages with a slot 18 formed in the upstanding member 15 if the arm 12 is forced laterally when in its closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

A StaY This invention relates to hinges in the form of stays such as side hung window stays.

Attempts have been made of late to render stays of this type more proof against attack by felons bearing crowbars and, in particular, a proposal has been made whereby the end cap of the stay may be screwed to the frame. This solution is not satisfactory, because it means that no adjustment is available to the fitter and further it is true of this, and all other stays of this type, that the profiling of the end cap and its engaging arm, which is designed to allow smooth operation, also provides an ideal shape to assist in the opening of the stay when it is levered by a crowbar. The present invention mitigates one or other, or in some embodiments both, of these problems.

From one aspect, there is provided a stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base member for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member, a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member adjacent one end thereof and means for engaging both the upstanding member and an associated frame to allow longitudinal movement of the base member relative to the frame when it is located thereon, whilst resisting vertical or lateral movement of the upstanding member.

From another aspect, the invention consists in a stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base merber for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member, and a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member adjacent one end thereof and a projection, extending away from and generally parallel to the base member for location in an aperture in an associated fixed frame or the like.

It will be appreciated that when, in use, the projection is located in an aperture in a fixed frame, then it will engage the frame if an attempt is made to crowbar the window open and will thereby resist this movement. However, because it is not secured to the frame, adjustment of the base member relative to the frame can still take place provided it does not exceed the length of the projection which can lie within the aperture.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the projection is cylindrical and the upstanding member is made from metal.

The end of the arm may have a formation, cut-out or the like for engaging the upstanding member, if the arm experiences a general lateral force when in its closed position.

Thus, particularly conveniently, there may be a slot in the upstanding member for receiving the end of the arm in the first position. The slot may be horizontal and the formation or the like may face a closed end of that slot. When the arm is displaced by a force acting generally parallel to the plane of the upstanding member, as will occur in a crowbar attack, the formation, cut-out or the like will be forced into engagement with the closed end of the slot and thereby resist this movement.

From a further aspect the invention includes a stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member, a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member adjacent one end thereof, and a cap or cage, mountable on an associated fixed frame or the like, for receiving the upstanding member to restrict lateral and/or vertical movement of the upstanding member.

In a preferred embodiment the cap or cage only allows limited movement along the line of the base member. Thus the cap may be hollow with an opening through which the upstanding member may pass, and may have a fixing for allowing it to be screwed or otherwise fastened to the frame. In the case where the upstanding member is slotted, the upstanding member may be wider adjacent the slot than it is adjacent its top to allow strength in both the upstanding member and the cap. The latter may conveniently be formed as a plastics moulding.

The cap may also be formed from bent metal sheet and may include side walls and/or a slotted lateral wall. Any of these arrangements maybe used with the slotted upstanding member as described below and defined above.

From a still further aspect the invention includes a stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base member for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member, a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member and a projection attachable in or relative to a frame and passing through an aperture in the upstanding member.

A particularly convenient arrangement of this construction can be achieved by making the projection a sliding fit in the aperture, so that it can be supplied with the stay and fixed to the frame, whilst located in the aperture.

Preferably the projection is in the form of a sleeve or brush through which a fixing screw can extend.

The upstanding member may be formed in two parts; the upper section of which may be of moulded plastics material and which may define the aperture. The two parts may be friction- or push-fitted together.

From another aspect the invention consists in a stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base for movement between a first position in which it over lies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member and a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member adjacent one end thereof and having a slot for receiving the end of the arm in its first position, the end of the arm having a formation, cut-out or the like for engaging the upstanding member iç the arm experiences a generally lateral force when in its closed position.

Although the invention has been described above it is to be insisted 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 a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stay mounted on a frame; and Figure 2 is a scrap along the line II-II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates alternative stay.

Figures 4a to 4b illustrate alternative caps for use with the stay of Figure 3; and Figure 5 illustrates an alternative end cap or projection construction.

A stay is illustrated in Figure 1 and is generally indicated at 10. The construction and formation of the hinge member of the stay is entirely conventional, with one exception, and will not be described in detail. However, the stay has an elongate base or track 11 on which is mounted an arm 12 for bearing a window or the like. The base 11 is engageable on a frame, generally indicated at 13, by means of screws (not shown) passing through elongate slots 14 in the bottom of the base member 11. These are elongate to allow longitudinal adjustment. The base carries an upstanding member 15 which is conveniently rigid sheet metal. The upstanding member 15 carries a cylindrical projection 16 which extends away from and generally parallel to the base member 11 for location in an aperture 17 formed in the frame 13.For this purpose the term "frame" includes the extrusions which often make up the outer portion of a modern window. The projection 16 has a length at least equivalent to the adjustment provided by the slots 14.

A lateral slot 18 is formed in the upstanding member 15 to receive the nose or end 19 of the arm 12 on the closing of the stay so that it locates as shown in Figure 2. The nose 19 has an inclined camming edge 20 in which is formed a cut-out 21. The cut-out 21 is located so that it lies across the thickness of the upstanding member 15 in the closed position of the stay so that it will engage the blind end 22 of the slot 18 if the arm 12 experiences a lateral force, as it will do if forced opening of the window is attempted. As has been explained above the effect will be to strongly resist this opening.

The stay 10a illustrated in Figure 3 is identical to that of Figure 1, except that the upstanding member 15a is narrowed towards its upper end 23 and carries no projection 17. In this arrangement an associated hollow cap 24 is provided. The cap 24 defines an inverted-T opening 25, extending up from its base, for receiving tne upper end 23 of the member 15 to restrict vertical and lateral movement of the member 15, when the cap is screwed to the frame 13 by means of a screw passing through aperture 26 in the cap 24.

The space 25 allows limited movement of member 15, and hence of the stay, along the line of the base 11 to allow for the adjustment mentioned above.

Similar effects can be achieved by alternative caps 27, 28 shown (not to scale) in Figures 4b to 4c. Cap 27 has side walls 29 which can simply restrict lateral movement of member 15, but may also be sized to engage abutments 23a on the upper end 23 to prevent vertical movement. Cap 28 may be a simple angle-bracket arranged to bear on the upper end 23 to limit vertical movement or it may be slotted, at 30, to allow the narrow portion of 23 to pass through it and thus restrict both vertical and horizontal movement. Caps 27 and 28 can readily be made from metal, whilst cap 24 may most conveniently be made from plastics material. In all cases the use of a screw fastener removes the accuracy problem, mentioned above, because the cap can first be located on the member 15, when the stay 10 is already attached to the frame 13.

The invention also includes a window including a frame having a stay as described or defined above mounted on it.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the upstanding member is formed in two parts, the upper one of which may be of moulded plastics material and which may define the aperture. The two parts may be friction or push fitted together.

Thus, there is a body 31 which defines an aperture 32 and a slot 33. The slot 33 receives the upstanding member 15 or 23 to locate and fix the upper section on the stay 10.

The aperture 32 slidingly receives the projection which is in the form of a sleeve or bush 34. A screw 35 is provided to pass through the sleeve 34 and to engage in the frame once the stay 10 has been located in situ. Longitudinal adjustment of the stay 10 away from the frame can then be achieved by relative movement between the sleeve 34 and the body 31. As long as the sleeve 34 penetrates the aperture 32 sufficiently the stay will be held against movement as described with reference to the previous embodiments.

The body 31 includes a foot 36, which lies below the nose 19 of the arm 12, when the stay is in the "closed" position. This will help to prevent any attempt to lever the body 31 off the member 15. The top of the upstanding member 15 or 23 may be castellated and the closed end of the slot 33 may be shaped accordingly.

Claims (13)

1. A stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base member for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member, a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member adjacent one end thereof and means for engaging both the upstanding member and an associated frame to allow longitudinal movement of the base member relative to the frame when it is located thereon, whilst resisting vertical or lateral movement of the upstanding member.

2. A stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base member for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member and a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member adjacent one end thereof and having a projection, extending away from and generally parallel to the base member, for location in an aperture in an associated frame or the like.

3. A stay as claimed in claim 2 wherein the projection is cylindrical.

4. A stay as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the upstanding member is made from metal.

5. A stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member, a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member adjacent one end thereof, and a cap or cage, mountable on an associated fixed frame or the like, for receiving the upstanding member to restrict lateral and/or vertical movement of the upstanding member.

6. A stay as claimed in claim 5 wherein the cap is hollow with an opening through which the upstanding member may pass.

7. A stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base member for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member, a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member and a- projection attachable in or relative to a frame to pass through an aperture in the upstanding member.

8. A stay as claimed in claim 7 wherein the projection is a sliding fit in the aperture.

9. A stay as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the projection is in the form of a sleeve or bush through which a fixing screw can extend.

10. A stay as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the upstanding member comprises a first, upper, section of moulded plastics which defines the aperture and a second, rigid part.

11. A stay as claimed in claim 10 wherein the two parts may be friction or-push-fittd together.

12. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the upstanding member has a slot for receiving the end of the arm in the first position.

13. A stay including an arm for supporting a load, an elongate base member for attachment to a frame, means for hingedly connecting the arm to the base for movement between a first position in which it overlies the base member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the base member and a rigid upstanding member fixed to the base member adjacent one end thereof and having a slot for receiving the end of the arm in its first position, the end of the arm having a formation, cut-out or the like for engaging the upstanding member if the arm experiences a generally lateral force when in its closed position.