GB2178477A - Stay arm assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A stay arm assembly 1 comprises a stay arm 2, a retainer 3, and a ring 4. The ring 4 serves to hold the stay arm 2 captive on the retainer 3, to allow opening of a respective window by only a limited amount, insufficient to allow the entry of a person. In order to open the window further, it must firstly be brought to a closed position, and a locking plate 18 displaced against a resilient bias to allow the ring 4 and plate 18 to be lifted past a retaining lug 16, thereby to disengage the stay arm 2 from the retainer 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stay arm assembly This invention relates to stay arm assemblies, and is concerned particularly although not exclusively with a such assemblies for use with opening sash windows.

It has been proposed to provide window stays of improved security, which allow a sash window to be opened only by a limited amount, insufficient to allow passage of an average sized person through the window opening. In order to open the window further, it is necessary to bring the window into a position in which it is substantially closed (which in the context of this Specification means actually closed or just slightly ajar), whereupon the stay means may be released.

It will be appreciated that, in this way, it is intended that the Stay means may be released only from the inside, and not by a would-be intruder.

It is desirable to ensure that such window stays can not be released from the outside by a would-be intruder, by the use of simple tools or pieces of wire or string. However, it is also desirable that such window stays do not become unduly complicated or costly to manufacture, nor unduly complicated to use.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide window stays which may provide a high degree of security, whilst being relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and relatively simple to use, from the inside.

More generally, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stay arm assembly comprising: a stay arm; a retainer for retaining the stay arm in at least one desired position; a ring which passes around the stay arm and engages the retainer so as to allow limited sliding movement of the stay arm with respect to retainer and the ring; and locking means comprising a part which connects the ring with the retainer and is movable between a first position in which it locks the ring to the retainer and a second position in which the ring may be disengaged from the retainer, to permit extended movement of the stay arm with respect to the retainer.

Preferably, the retainer and said part are formed one with a projection and the other with a matching recess which are so arranged as to be in register only when said part is in said second position, thereby to permit disengagement of the ring and retainer, the projection and recess otherwise being arranged to interfere, thereby to lock the ring to the retainer.

The projection may comprise an elongate lug on the retainer with the recess comprising an elongate slot on said part. Said part may be formed with an aperture which is disposed to one side of and communicates with said slot.

The retainer may comprise a pin which engages the stay arm and/or the ring. The aforementioned lug may be provided on such a pin. The arrangement may be such that the pin engages firmly in said aperture, except when said part is in said second position. The pin may be formed with a flat which, when said part is in said second position, is substantially parallel to the axis of said slot.

Said part may comprise a plate which is slideable relative to the ring, between said first and second positions.

The assembly may include bias means which resiliently biases said part away from its second position. The resilient bias means may comprise a member of resilient material which is provided on said part.

Preferably, said part is movable into said second position only when the stay arm and retainer are in a predetermined juxtaposition.

Said juxtaposition may correspond to a closed position of a closure member with respect to a frame, to which closure member and frame said stay arm and retainer are secured, in use.

In a preferred arrangement, the assembly is adapted for use with an opening sash window, the stay arm and retainer being adapted to be secured to an opening sash and a frame of a window.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a stay arm assembly for an opening sash window; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line II - II of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a retainer of the assembly, taken on the line Ill - Ill of Fig.

1; Figure 4 is another sectional view of the retainer, taken on the line IV - IV of Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of a locking plate of the assembly, shown relative to a pin of the retainer; and Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the locking plate and pin in different relative angular positions.

The illustrated stay arm assembly 1 comprises a stay arm 2, a retainer 3, and a ring 4.

The stay arm 2 is generally of channel section, being formed on the under face of the top wall 5 thereof with a series of blind holes 6. At one end, the stay arm 2 is provided with a pivot pin 7, by means of which it is secured by appropriate means (not shown) to the opening sash of the window. At its opposite end, the stay arm 2 is formed with a solid end portion 8, defining an end wall 9 to the open channel section.

The retainer 3 comprises a base 10 which is formed with a pair of apertures 11 for the passage therethrough of fixing screws, by means of which the retainer 3 may be secured to the respective frame of the opening window sash. Above the base 10, the retainer 3 is formed with a circular boss 12, from which there projects an upstanding pin 13 having an upper portion 14 and a lower portion 15, between which is disposed an elongate lug 16.

The ring 4 has an aperture 28, through which the stay arm 2 passes. Towards the bottom of the aperture 28 the inner side walls of the ring 4 define two oppositely facing grooves 17, in which there is engaged a locking plate 18, which is provided at one side with a button 19. At the opposite side of the plate 18 there is provided a resiliently deformable member 20 - for example, of an elastomeric material. The button 19 projects through an aperture provided therefor in the ring 4.

At its base, the ring 4 is formed with a circular recess 21, having a diameter slightly greater than that of the circular boss 12 of the retainer 3. Above the recess 21, the ring 4 is formed with an elongate slot 22, the dimensions of which are just slightly greater than that of the lug 16 on the retainer 3.

The locking plate 18 is also formed with an elongate slot 23, which has a length just greater than that of the lug 16, and a width which is greater by a somewhat larger margin.

An aperture 24 is provided in communication with, and at one side of the elongate slot 23, to accommodate the lower pin portion 15. It will be noted that, whereas the upper pin portion 14 is of circular cross-section, the lower pin portion 15 is of a somewhat greater cross-section, being extended to be of substantially D-configuration, to afford a flat 25 which is substantially parallel to the axis of the elongate slot 23, as seen in Fig. 5.

The window stay arm assembly operates as follows.

Firstly, let it be assumed that the stay arm 2 is disposed relative to the the retainer 3, as shown generally in Fig. 1. In this condition, the upper pin portion 14 engages a respective one of the blind holes 6, to retain the stay arm in a desired position. As illustrated, this would correspond to the window sash being open to a predetermined degree. In order to open the window further, the stay arm 2 is raised slightly, lifting the ring 4 with it, and the stay arm 2 is then moved relative to the retainsr 3 and ring 4, and allowed to drop subsequently, to engage the upper pin portion 14 in the next desired one of the blind holes 6. In fact, in Fig. 1, the right most blind hole 6 corresponds to an end position of the window stay. It is not possible to open the window further, since the lug 16 will abut the end wall 9 afforded by the end portion 8 of the stay arm 2.

To close the window to a desired degree, the stay arm 2 is lifted to bring the upper pin portion 14 out of engagement with the blind holes 6, and allowed to drop again when the window is in its desired position. During this opening and closing movement, it will be appreciated that the stay arm 2 slides to the left and to the right of the retainer 3 and the ring 4. Moreover, the angular position of the stay arm 2 and the ring 4, with respect to the retainer 3, will alter as the window sash is opened and closed. For simplicity, the ring 4 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as aligned with the retainer 3, which relative position will in fact occur only when the window sash is closed, or nearly so.

The locking plate 18 serves to retain the stay arm 2 and ring 4 in engagement with the retainer 3. This is because the resilient member 20 biases the locking plate 18 to the left (as seen in Fig. 2), such that the wall of the aperture 24 is urged firmly against the adjacent wall of the lower pin portion 15. This ensures that the elongate slot is off-set, relative to the lug 16. If a continuous upward force is applied to the stay arm 2 and the ring 4, then the locking plate 18 simply comes to abut under the lug 16, to prevent disengagement. That is, the lug 16 and the elongate aperture 18 effectively interfere.

It is to be appreciated that, with the stay arm 2 lifted to its uppermost position in this way, the lower part of the ring 4 depends below the upper level of the circular boss 12.

This protects the lower pin portion 15 from possible attack by a cutting implement.

When the window is closed, or nearly so, the angular position of the locking plate 18, with respect to the lower pin portion 15, is as illustrated in Fig. 5. In this juxtaposition, the locking plate may be displaced in the direction illustrated by the arrow F, upon applying a force to the button 19, in that same direction.

The resilient member 20 deforms to permit sufficient movement as to bring the elongate slot 23 into register with the lug 16, whereupon the stay arm 2 and ring 4 may be lifted clear from the retainer 3. With the stay arm 2 and ring 4 thus disengaged from the retainer 3, the window sash may be opened as wide as is desired. In order to re-engage the parts, the window must again be brought into its closed position, the button 19 pressed in the direction of the arrow F, against the resilient bias of the member 20, to bring the elongate slot 23 into register with the lug 16, and the stay arm 2 and the ring 4 may then drop down into engagement with the retainer 3, whereupon the button 19 may be released, under the influence of the resilient bias of the member 20. Thereafter, the various parts become engaged, and remain so until released, as described above.

Fig. 6 illustrates the angular position of the locking plate 18 relative to the lower pin por tion 15, when the respective window sash is somewhat open. It will be seen that, because of the shape of the lower pin portion 15, it is not possible to displace the locking plate 18 in the direction of the arrow F to any appreciable amount. More specifically, the locking plate 18 can be displaced by a sufficient amount to bring the elongate slot 23 into register with the lug 16, only when the respective parts have the relative angular position illustrated in Fig. 5 - i.e., when the window is closed.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated embodiment may afford particular high security to window stays, which may safely permit a window to be left open a limited amount for ventilation, whilst being incapable of opening from the outside to a sufficient extent to permit the entry of a person. In order to afford wider opening of the window, the stay arm 2 and ring 4 must be disengaged from the retainer 3, as described above. However, this can only be done when the window is closed, or at least sufficiently closed as to prevent a persons' hand entering through the window gap, from outside. Firstly, it is essential that the axes of the elongate slot 23 and the lug 16 are brought to be substantially parallel. Secondly, the button 19 must be pressed to displace the slot 23 into register with the lug 16.

This can only be done when the lug 16 and slot 18 are substantially parallel. The requirement of an appreciable (but not uncomfortable) force to be applied to the button 19 makes it yet more difficult for the assembly to be manipulated from the outside, even with the assistance of special tools.

It will be noted that, in the illustrated arrangement, the resilient member 20 is of such a configuration as to facilitate resilient deformation thereof.

In a variant of the illustrated embodiment, a further aperture may be provided opposite the aperture 24 such that, in the event of an excess force being applied to the button 19, the slot 23 is pushed beyond the point of register with lug 16. This is a yet further deterrent to would-be intruders, in that just that right amount of force would have to be applied to the button 19, to bring the slot 23 and lug 16 into register.

It will be noted, from Fig. 2, that the inner upper surface of the ring 4 has chamfered corners 26, which serve to space the inner surface of the ring 4 from the top surface of the window stay 2. This may be most useful in avoiding any scuffing of the upper surface of the stay arm 2.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification and/or drawings, or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process disclosed herein.

Claims (15)

1. A stay arm assembly comprising: a stay arm; a retainer for retaining the stay arm in at least one desired position; a ring which passes around the stay arm and engages the retainer so as to allow limited sliding movement of the stay arm with respect to the retainer and the ring; and locking means comprising a part which connects the ring with the retainer and is movea ble between a first position in which it locks the ring to the retainer and a second position in which the ring may be disengaged from the retainer, to permit extended movement of the stay arm with respect to the retainer.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the retainer and said part are formed one with a projection and the other with a matching recess which are so arranged as to be in register only when said part is in said second position, thereby to permit disengagement of the ring and retainer, the projection and recess otherwise being arranged to interfere, thereby to lock the ring to the retainer.

3. An assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the projection comprises an elongate lug on the retainer and the recess comprises an elongate slot on said part.

4. An assembly according to Claim 4, wherein said part is formed with an aperture which is disposed to one side ofand communicates with said slot.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the retainer comprises a pin which engages the stay arm and/or the ring.

6. An assembly according to Claims 3 and 5, wherein said lug is provided on said pin.

7. An assembly according to Claims 4 and 6, wherein said pin engages firmly in said aperture, except when said part is in said second position.

8. An assembly according to Claim 7, wherein said pin is formed with a flat which, when said part is in said second position, is substantially parallel to the axis of said slot.

9. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said part comprises a plate which is slideable relative to the ring, between said first and second positions.

10. An assembly according to any preceding claim, including bias means which resiliently biasses said part away from its second position.

11. An assembly according to Claim 10, wherein said resillient bias means comprises a member of resilient material, provided on said part.

12. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said part is moveable into said second position only when the stay arm and retainer are in a predetermined juxtaposition.

13. An assembly according to Claim 12, wherein said juxtaposition corresponds to a closed position of a closure member with respect to a frame, to which closure member and frame said stay arm and retainer are secured, in use.

14. An assembly according to any preceding claim, adapted for use with an opening sash window, the stay arm and retainer being adapted to be secured to an opening sash and a frame of a window.

15. A stay arm assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.