GB2127092A - Improvements in friction supporting stays for windows - Google Patents

Abstract

A friction supporting stay, for windows, comprises a track 10, a slider 15 movable along the track, a strut 16 pivotally connected to the track, a brace 18 pivotally connected between the slider and the strut, a link 21 pivotally connected to the slider, and a bar 24 pivotally connected to the link 21 and to the strut 16, the arrangement being such that as the slider 15 moves along the track the bar swings from a position overlying the track to a position where it is angled with respect to the track. Each pivotal connection between two relatively pivotable elements of the stay comprises a rivet 33 (Figure 2) passing through registering bores in the two elements, the bore in one of the elements being countersunk and the underside of the head of the rivet being correspondingly conically shaped so as to be received snugly in the countersunk part of the bore. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in friction supporting stays for windows The invention relates to friction supporting stays, for windows, of the kind comprising a track, a slider movable along the track, a strut pivotally connected to the track, a brace pivotally connected between the slider and the strut, a link pivotally connected to the slider, and a bar pivotally connected to the link and to the strut, the arrangement being such that as the slider moves along the track the bar swings from a position overlying the track to a position where it is angled with respect to the track.

In use, two such supporting stays are normally provided at opposite sides of a window, the track of each stay being mounted on the window frame and the bar being mounted on the window sash. The arrangement is such that as the window pivots on the stays, about either a vertical or a horizontal axis, the axis of pivoting of the window sash moves away from the window frame so that when the window is open both sides thereof are accessible from one side of the window frame.

In friction supporting stays of this kind the window sash is frictionally restrained in any angular position to which it is set. This frictional restraint may be provided partly by the friction at the pivotal connections between the various elements, but it is largely provided by the frictional engagement between the slider and the track.

The pivotal connections between the various elements of the stay are normally provided by rivets, each rivet passing through registering holes in the two elements which it connects, the holes being counterbored to receive the head and deformed tail of the rivet respectively. Normally the rivet is a cheese-head rivet and the counterbore is cylindrical.

In stays of this type, it is important that the pivotal connections are accurately located in relation to one another to ensure that the stay operates smoothly and accurately with no tendency to jam. The pivotal connections must also have as little play as possible to ensure accurate operation and to prevent window rattle.

However, due to manufacturing tolerances, and tolerances in the dimensions ofthe rivets used, it is necessary for the holes in the elements to provide sufficient clearance to accomodate tolerances in the diameter of the rivet shank and it is also necessary for there to be a clearance between the counterbore and the periphery of the rivet head, again to allow for tolerances in the diameter of the head. This can sometimes lead to excessive play at the pivotal connection resulting in unsatisfactory operation of the stay. The present invention sets out to provide an alternative form of pivotal connection which overcomes this disadvantage.

According to the invention, in a friction supporting stay of the kind first referred to above, each pivotal connection between two relatively pivotable elements of the stay comprises a rivet passing through registering bores in the two elements, the bore in one of the elements being countersunk and the underside of the head of the rivet being correspondingly conically shaped so as to be received snugly in the countersunk part of the bore.

Thus, when the rivet is applied and compressed axially the co-operation of the rivet head with the countersunk bore positively and firmly locates the rivet against lateral movement regardless of any undue clearance between the shaft of the rivet and the bore in the element through which it passes.

Preferably the bore in the other element is also countersunk, the deformed tail of the rivet being received in the countersunk part of the bore. Thus, the engagement between the rail of the rivet and the countersunk bore also positively locates the other element laterally with respect to the rivet.

Preferably the head of the rivet and the deformed tail of the rivet are substantially flush with the respective surfaces of the elements in which the countersinks are formed.

The following is a description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a plan view of a friction supporting stay, according to the invention, shown in an open position, and Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the supporting stay comprises a track member 10 having longitudinal inturned flanges 11. The track member is, in use of the stay, normally secured vertically to the window frame, two stays being provided at opposite sides respec tivelyofthewindowframe. Fixing holes 12 are provided in the web 13 of the track member to receive fixing screws. At its upper end the track member is closed by a plastics nose-cap 14 which is plugged into the end of the track member and may be "staked" to the track member by deforming part of the web, or by means of a rivet.

A slider 15 is slideable along the track member, the longitudinal side portions of the slider fitting beneath the flanges 11 of the track member so as to retain the slider within the track member An elongate cranked metal strut 16 is pivotally connected to the track member 10, adjacent the lower end thereof, by a rivet 17. An elongate brace 18 is pivotally connected at one end, by a rivet 19, to the slider 15 and at the opposite end thereof, by a rivet 20, to a part of the strut 16 intermediate the ends thereof. A short link 21 is pivotally connected to the slider 15 by a rivet 22 at a location spaced from the rivet 19. The opposite end of the link 21 is pivotally connected by a rivet 23 to one end of a bar 24, which is in turn pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, by a rivet 25 to the extremity of the strut 16.

A cross link 26, shown in chain lines, may be pivotally connected between the brace 18 and the bar 24, parallel to the strut 16, if required.

The bar 24 is, in use, connected to the side member of the window frame and fixing holes 27 are provided for this purpose.

In operation, the bar 24 may be swung from the angled position shown in Figure 1, in which the window is open, to a closed position where the bar 24 overlies the track member 10 and the window is closed. The dimensions of the elements of the stay, and the positions of the rivets, are so determined that the strut 16, brace 18 and link 21 also overlie the track member 10 when the window is in the closed position, and it will therefore be appreciated that the rivets must be accurately located to ensure that the stay can move between the open and closed positions without jamming.

Figure 2 shows a section through the rivet 25 connecting the bar 24 to the strut 16 and it will be understood that the other pivotal connections in the stay are similar.

The rivet 25 comprises a cylindrical shank 30 and a flat head 31 the undersurface ofwhich is conically shaped and co-operates with a countersunk part 32 of a bore 33 in the bar 24.

The lower part of the rivet, which is initially cylindrically and of inverted cup-shape, passes through a bore 34 in the strut 16 and when the tail 35 of the rivet is deformed outwardly, as shown in Figure 2, it is received within a countersunk part 36 of the bore 34. A washer 37 encircles the rivet 25 between the bar 24 and strut 16.

It will be appreciated that, as previously described, compression of the rivet axially to deform the tail 35 will, due to the co-operation of the head 31 with the countersink 32 and the co-operation of the tail 35 with the countersink 36, locate the two elements of the stay firmly against relative lateral movement transverse to the axis of the rivet. The dimensions of the countersunk portions are such that the head and tail of the rivet are substantially flush with the surfaces of the associated elements.

Thus, not only does the described arrangement accurately locate the two elements at each pivotal connection, regardless of tolerances in the dimensions of the rivets, but it also ensures that there is no play at the pivotal connection.

It will be appreciated that countersunk rivets of the kind shown in Figure 2 may not only be used at the pivots 20,23,25 between the links of the stay, but may also be used at the pivots 19,22 connecting the brace 18 and link 21 to the slider 15, and atthe pivot 17 connecting the strut 16 to the track 10.

In the former case the underside of the countersunk rivets 19 and 22 are deformed into cylindrical counterbores in the underside of the plastics slider 15, or into countersunk conical recesses.

The rivet 17 secures the strut 16 to the top of an upwardly domed portion of the web 13 of the track and in this case the lower end of the countersunk rivet may be simply deformed to overlie the undersurface of the web, since the deformed portion of the rivet will lie within the domed portion of the web of the track. However, it will be appreciated that if required, the hole in the web of the track through which the rivet passes may also be countersunk or counterbored to receive the deformed lower end of the rivet.

CLAIMS (filed on 16-9-83) 1. A friction supporting stay, for windows, of the kind comprising a track, a slider movable along the track, a strut pivotally connected to the track, a brace pivotally connected between the slider and the strut, a link pivotally connected to the slider, and a bar pivotally connected to the link and to the strut, the arrangement being such that as the slider moves along the track the bar swings from a position overlying the track to a position where it is angled with respect to the track, wherein each pivotal connection between two relatively pivotable elements of the stay comprises a rivet passing through registering bores in the two elements, the bore in one of the elements being countersunk and the underside of the head of the rivet being correspondingly conically shaped so as to be received snugly in the countersunk part of the bore.

2. A friction stay according to claim 1, wherein the bore in the other of the relatively pivotable elements is also countersunk, the deformed tail of the rivet being received in the countersunk part of the bore.

3. Afriction stay according to claim 2, wherein the head of the rivet and the deformed tail of the rivet are substantially flush with the respective surfaces of the elements in which the countersinks are formed.

4. Afriction supporting stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. closed. The dimensions of the elements of the stay, and the positions of the rivets, are so determined that the strut 16, brace 18 and link 21 also overlie the track member 10 when the window is in the closed position, and it will therefore be appreciated that the rivets must be accurately located to ensure that the stay can move between the open and closed positions without jamming. Figure 2 shows a section through the rivet 25 connecting the bar 24 to the strut 16 and it will be understood that the other pivotal connections in the stay are similar. The rivet 25 comprises a cylindrical shank 30 and a flat head 31 the undersurface ofwhich is conically shaped and co-operates with a countersunk part 32 of a bore 33 in the bar 24. The lower part of the rivet, which is initially cylindrically and of inverted cup-shape, passes through a bore 34 in the strut 16 and when the tail 35 of the rivet is deformed outwardly, as shown in Figure 2, it is received within a countersunk part 36 of the bore 34. A washer 37 encircles the rivet 25 between the bar 24 and strut 16. It will be appreciated that, as previously described, compression of the rivet axially to deform the tail 35 will, due to the co-operation of the head 31 with the countersink 32 and the co-operation of the tail 35 with the countersink 36, locate the two elements of the stay firmly against relative lateral movement transverse to the axis of the rivet. The dimensions of the countersunk portions are such that the head and tail of the rivet are substantially flush with the surfaces of the associated elements. Thus, not only does the described arrangement accurately locate the two elements at each pivotal connection, regardless of tolerances in the dimensions of the rivets, but it also ensures that there is no play at the pivotal connection. It will be appreciated that countersunk rivets of the kind shown in Figure 2 may not only be used at the pivots 20,23,25 between the links of the stay, but may also be used at the pivots 19,22 connecting the brace 18 and link 21 to the slider 15, and atthe pivot 17 connecting the strut 16 to the track 10. In the former case the underside of the countersunk rivets 19 and 22 are deformed into cylindrical counterbores in the underside of the plastics slider 15, or into countersunk conical recesses. The rivet 17 secures the strut 16 to the top of an upwardly domed portion of the web 13 of the track and in this case the lower end of the countersunk rivet may be simply deformed to overlie the undersurface of the web, since the deformed portion of the rivet will lie within the domed portion of the web of the track. However, it will be appreciated that if required, the hole in the web of the track through which the rivet passes may also be countersunk or counterbored to receive the deformed lower end of the rivet. CLAIMS (filed on 16-9-83)

1. A friction supporting stay, for windows, of the kind comprising a track, a slider movable along the track, a strut pivotally connected to the track, a brace pivotally connected between the slider and the strut, a link pivotally connected to the slider, and a bar pivotally connected to the link and to the strut, the arrangement being such that as the slider moves along the track the bar swings from a position overlying the track to a position where it is angled with respect to the track, wherein each pivotal connection between two relatively pivotable elements of the stay comprises a rivet passing through registering bores in the two elements, the bore in one of the elements being countersunk and the underside of the head of the rivet being correspondingly conically shaped so as to be received snugly in the countersunk part of the bore.

2. A friction stay according to claim 1, wherein the bore in the other of the relatively pivotable elements is also countersunk, the deformed tail of the rivet being received in the countersunk part of the bore.

3. Afriction stay according to claim 2, wherein the head of the rivet and the deformed tail of the rivet are substantially flush with the respective surfaces of the elements in which the countersinks are formed.

4. Afriction supporting stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.