GB2335702A - A window stay with ribbed links - Google Patents

Abstract

A windows friction stay has a link arrangement pivotally mounted on a track, the latter and one of the links being adapted to be secured respectively to a window frame and a window sash, where at least one link is profiled by being formed with ribs (52,54) extending along its length. The ribs may be formed by displacing material at locations across the width of the link in alternately opposite directions. The links may be formed from a strip of metal (50) of a thickness less than is conventionally required and so save in material costs. The stay may comprise a nose that enters a closure member, where the closure member is a composite of a metal such as stainless steel and a moulded plastics and where the metal part presents a relatively hard wearing surface to the nose.

Description

1 1 IMprovements in or Relating to Window SuppQrts 2335702 This invention

is concerned with apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening, and is particularly concerned with window support apparatus wherein the window is pivotable about either a vertical or horizontal axis and the axis of pivoting of the window moves away from the window frame, so that when the window is opened, both sides thereof are accessible from one side of the window frame.

Such apparatus conventionally comprises a first member which mounts the window, and a link arrangement for pivotally mounting the first member on a track attached to the window frame. The track is normally secured to a respective window frame part by screws extending through mounting holes provided in the base of the track, and the track conventionally has a closure member at one end which is engaged by the respective end of a link when the arrangement is moved to the closed position, the engagement correctly aligning the link arrangement with the track and retaining the correct alignment in the closed position.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening the apparatus comprising a link arrangement having a first member mounting the component, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured with the end means to the fixture opening, and means pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, the end means being adapted to co-act with the first member in the closed position and being a composite of two materials, one of which provides a relatively hard wearing face for co-acting with the first member.

Preferably said one material provides the wearing face on one part thereof, and, on a second part thereof, provides a mounting location for connecting the end means to the second member and to the fixture opening.

2 Preferably also, the other material, on a first part thereof, provides a cover overlying the wearing face of said one material. The second part of said one material may overlie a second part of the other material, with said one material at the mounting location being extruded into a fixing location of said second member.

Said one material is preferably a metal, for example stainless steel, and said other material is preferably a moulded plastics.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening, the apparatus comprising a link arrangement having a first member for mounting the component, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured with the end means to the fixture opening, and means pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, the pivotal mounting means being profiled in crosssection.

Preferably the pivotal mounting means comprises a plurality of links forming part of the said arrangement. At least one of the links may be profiled by displacing material at locations across the width of the link alternately to opposite sides thereof, whereby to produce a ribbed profile. At one or each side edge, the material of the or each link may not be displaced, whereby to centralise the respective side edge relative to the rest of the link.

The spacing apart of outer flats on adjacent ribs is preferably 2 mm, the displacement to form the ribs enabling the or each link to be initially formed of a thickness substantially less than 2 mm.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming an elongate member from a material length of substantially rectangular cross-section, the method comprising removing edges of the material, and displacing material at different locations whereby to provide a profiled cross-section.

3 Preferably removal of the edges and profiling of the cross section are carried out in the same production step. Preferably also the material is cut to desired lengths to form the elongate members in the same production step.

The displacing of the material may form ribs which extend along the length of the material.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a window support apparatus shown in partly open position; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of an end closure member of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the end closure member; Fig. 4 is a section on A-A of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an end ele vation of a modified structure of link for the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of an alternative modified structure of link for the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a window support apparatus in the form of a friction stay comprises an open topped track 10 having inturned upper walls 12, the track 10 being adapted to be fixed on a lower horizontal part of a window frame (not shown) by means of any suitable fixing devices engaged through apertures in the base of the track 10 as hereinafter described. A further track (not shown) is inverted and secured to a horizontal upper part of the window frame.

A window sash (not shown) is fixed at each of opposed edges to a respective elongate member 16 forming part of a link arrangement. The member 16, at a location intermediate of its ends is pivotally mounted on one end of an elongate link 18, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the track 10 towards one end thereof. At one end thereof the support member 16 is 4 pivotally mounted on one end of a link 20, the other end of the latter being pivota-Uy mounted on a slider 22 which is slidably located in the track 10. The slider 22 also pivotally mounts one end of a further link 24, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the link 18. The latter is stepped along its length to provide a raised section 26 on which the link 24 is mounted, so as to provide clearance for the link 24 in the closed position.

At its other end, the track 10 is closed by a member 32. The latter is a composite of two materials, for example a metal such as stainless steel and a moulded plastics, whereby to take advantage of the strength of the metal and the aesthetic benefits of the plastics.

The plastics material provides a mounting part 34 overlying an end part of the base of the track 10 below the walls 12. The mounting part 34 has a pair of longitudinally spaced fixing holes 36, 38, the latter being elongate. The metal also has a mounting part 40 overlying the mounting part 34 over part of the length thereof. At the position of the fixing hole 36, the metal can be extruded into the hole, thereby connecting the metal to the plastics and providing a through hole which aligns with a through hole in the track base for securing both the metal and plastics materials of the end member 32 and the track 10 to the window frame.

The end member 32 is formed at the end remote from the fixing hole 38 with an upstanding part 41 of the plastics towards one side of the mounting part 34 and a cover 42 which lies parallel to the mounting part 34 but is spaced thereabove. The metal of the end member 32 also is upstanding substantially at the same location as the upstanding part 41 the plastics but inwardly thereof, providing a profiled surface 44 extending between the respective side edge of the member 32 and the outer end thereof.

The elongate member 16 at the end thereof towards the end member 32, is formed with a profiled nose 46 defined by an arcuate end face 48 inwardly curved on one side edge to effectively define the extending nose 46 at the other side edge. The nose has a rounded outer end 50. The arcuate end face 48 is shaped to be complementary to the profile of the internal metal face 40 of the end member 42, whereby to engage therewith in a conventional manner in the closed position of the link arrangement. 1 In use, the track 10 is fixed on the lower horizontal part of the window frame by means of screws engaging through the various apertures and the aligned apertures in the base of the track 10.

The support member 16 may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a closed position wherein the member 16 overlies the pivot member 18 and the links 20, 24, the latter in turn overlying the track 10. It will be appreciated that, in a closed position, the window supported by the link arrangement is also closed, while the window with the link arrangement can be moved to the open position as shown in Fig. 1 or further, to enable both sides of the window to be accessible from the one side of the window frame. When moving to the closed position, the nose 46 of the support member 16 enters the closure member 32 and interacts with the profiled surface 44 to correctly position the window against the window frame in a conventional manner.

Forming the end member 32 as a composite of metal and plastics takes advantage of the use of metal to provide a relatively hard wearing face 44 engageable by the end member 16, while having the aesthetic advantages of a plastics material.

Conventionally, the links 18, 20, 24, as well as the member 16, are formed of 2 mm thick metal such as stainless steel. The correct thickness of the links is important to enable proper positioning and thereby scaling of the window within the window frame in the closed position.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, each of the links can be formed initially from a strip 50 of metal such as stainless steel having a thickness of 1.5 mm. To provide for the required 2 mm thickness, the strip 50 is profiled by 6 being formed with ribs 52, 54 extending along the length thereof. The ribs 52, 54 are formed by displacing material at locations across the strip 50 alternately in opposite directions, whereby the spacing between outer flats 53, 55 on adjacent ribs 52, 54 is 2 mm. At side edges of the strip 50, the material may either not be displaced so as to provide a centralised edge 56, or may be displaced to define an offset edge 58.

In the alternative structure as shown in Fig. 6, the links may be formed from a strip 60 of metal such as stainless steel initially 1.2 mm thick, which is then subsequently formed with ribs 62, 64 to again define the required 2 mm spacing between outer flats 63, 65 on adjacent ribs 62, 64.

The links for a window stay are conventionally formed from lengths of a metal such as stainless steel having a substantially rectangular crosssection. To form the ribbed links, the material length is passed through a machine which conventionally dresses the edges of the material, i.e. removes the sharp edges, but which is also formed with pressing rollers, whereby to displace the material at the locations to form the ribs in the same production step. The same machine cuts the material into required lengths, whereby to complete each ribbed link in the same production step. It will be appreciated that the ribs can alternatively be formed by suitable pressing rollers acting on previously formed strips of material.

The ribbed links are almost as strong as the conventional planar links of 2 mm thickness, and are certainly strong and rigid enough to function properly in a window stay. The material has increased strength in the areas joining adjacent ribs.

The reduction in the amount of material to be used in forming the links leads to a considerable saving in material costs, and yet the links maintain all the necessary qualities for use in conventional friction stays.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the 7 invention. For example it will be appreciated that the rib profiles may be different from those described and shown in relation to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Apphcant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

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Claims (8)

1. Claims l. Apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an

   open and a closed position in a fixture opening, the apparatus comprising a link arrangement having a first member for mounting the component, a second member providing end means and- adapted to be secured with the end means to the fixture opening, and means for mounting the first member on a plurality of elongate links such that the first member may pivot relative to the second member, wherein at least one of the links is profiled by being formed with ribs extending along the length thereof.
2. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the links has elongate upper and lower sides defining a width of the link therebetween, and elongate side edges joining the elongate upper and lower sides, the link being profiled by displacing material at locations across the width of the link alternately to opposite sides thereof, whereby to produce a ribbed profile.
3. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein at one or each side edge, the material of said at least one link is not displaced, whereby to centralise the respective side edge relative to the rest of the link.
4. 4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the spacing apart of outer flats on adjacent ribs is 2 mm, the displacement to form the ribs enabling the or each link to be initially formed of a thickness substantially less than 2 mm.
5. 5. A method of forming a profiled link according to any preceding claim from a material length of substantially rectangular cross-section, the method comprising removing sharp corner edges of the material, and displacing material at different locations whereby to provide a profiled cross-section.
6. 6. A method according to Claim 5, wherein removal of the edges and profiling of the cross section are carried out in the same production step.

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7. 7. A method according to Claim 6, wherein the material is cut to desired lengths to form the elongate members in the same production step.
8. 8. A method according to any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the displacing of the material forms ribs which extend along the length of the material.

   g. A method of forming an elongate member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.