GB2176533A

GB2176533A - Friction supporting stay

Info

Publication number: GB2176533A
Application number: GB08614455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Buckley; Neil Martin Baker
Original assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Current assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Priority date: 1985-06-14
Filing date: 1986-06-13
Publication date: 1986-12-31
Also published as: GB8614455D0; GB8515141D0; GB2176533B

Abstract

A friction supporting stay for a window or a door of the type in which there is a track member secured to the window or door frame and a bar secured to the window or door and the bar has a nose member adapted to engage a nose cap on the track member. An object of the invention is to so shape the nose cap and the nose member that they act like cam surfaces to cause two distinct phases in the initial opening of the window. In the first phase the end of a plastic nose cap 16 has a modified surface 18 which contacts a modified cam surface 19 in a nose member 20 to produce initially a rotational movement which causes the bar 21 carrying the window to move outwardly. The second portion 22 of the surface of the cavity in the nose cap is inclined so that during a subsequent part of the opening movement it causes a linear downward and outward movement of the window relatively to the window frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Friction supporting stay This invention relates to friction supporting stays for windows or doors of the type comprising a track member which is adapted to be secured to a window or door frame and a bar adapted to be secured to a window or door, the bar being pivotally supported from the track by struts.

An example of such a friction stay is illustrated in our UK patent 2133074 and in a modified form in our UK patent application 8429390.

Such friction stays are used for example to support windows which, when opened, move laterally outwardly away from the window frame for example as illustrated in our UK patent application 8432510. On all windows but particularly with windows of the larger type where the frame is heavy and bowing of the frame may take place, we have found that there is occasional interference between the upper outer flange of the window surround and the window frame as the window opens.

The initial movement of the friction support stays, usually located one at each end of the window, may cause a tendency for the upper horizontal part of the window surround to initially pivot inwardly so as to take up the usual space occupied by a seal and then to scrape the window frame.

An object of the present invention is to provide a friction supporting stay in which this problem is overcome.

In accordance with the present invention a friction supporting stay for windows or doors comprises a track member, adapted to be secured to a window or door frame, and a bar adapted to be secured to the window or door, the bar being pivotally supported from the track by struts, the bar having a nose member adapted to engage in a nose cap on the track member, the inner surface of the nose cap being so shaped that the nose member will be guided so that the bar will move outwardly away from the window or door frame during the initial opening movement of the window or door, thus preventing the window or door surround from scraping the window or door frame during said initial opening movement.

Preferably the inner surface of the nose cap, within which the nose member fits, acts as a cam surface and the nose cap itself acts as a cam so as to guide the bar relatively to the track member. Preferably the cam surface comprises a rounded portion and the initial rotational movement of the bar relatively to the strut causes the rounded portion to contact the cam surface resulting in the initial movement of the bar outwardly away from the frame, the cam surface also having a straight portion which then causes a linear movement of the bar outwardly and downwardly away from the frame.

The inner surface may be formed in a plastics nose cap fitted on to the track and the cam surface may be formed on a plastics nose member fitted to the bar.

The nose portion may be cut away below the cam surface so that it will not jam but will move smoothly.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section through a window surround and window frame shown in the closed position; Figure 2 shows the same window surround and window frame with the window frame in its initial opening position to illustrate the problem which arises in prior art arrangements; Figure 3 is a section through a window surround and a window frame embodying a friction supporting stay modified in accordance with the present invention, the window being shown in its closed position; Figure 4 shows the same window in the later stages of the opening position; Figure 5 is a front elevation of a nose cap on the end of a track, the nose cap being designed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the nose cap shown in Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a plan of the same nose cap;; Figure 8 is an elevation of a nose member mounted on a bar, the nose member being modified in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 9 is a side elevation of the nose member.

In Fig. 1 is shown an upper transverse window frame member 10 and the upper transverse window surround member 11.

These members may be for example embodied in the type of window illustrated in our patent application 8432510 and the window may be supported by the kind of friction supporting stay illustrated in our patent 2047309B or in our patent application 8429390. One problem with the prior art friction supporting stays, when used on any window, but particularly when used on heavy windows or windows of considerable lateral width, is that during the initial opening movement of the window the upper flange 12 of the window surround may engage the upper transverse portion 13 of the window frame.

As shown in Fig. 1 the window is in its closed position and there are seals 14 and 15. The initial opening movement of the window sometimes causes the seal 14 to compress and the upper flange 12 to scrape the portion 13 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

It is an object of the present invention to prevent this scraping action occurring.

To achieve this the plastic nose cap 16 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7) which is attached to a track 17 has its inner cavity surface modified as shown. The upper part 18 of this surface is modified to act in conjunction with a modified cam surface 19 on a nose member 20 to produce an initial rotational movement when the window is first opened, so that there is an initial outward movement of the bar 21 and therefore of the window.

The position 22 of the surface of the cavity of the nose cap is inclined as shown so that it causes the second part of the opening movement to be a downward and outward movement which will tend to move the window and window surround, at its top end, bodily away from the window frame.

The nose cap may be rivted to the track 17 or otherwise attached and it may have an additional strengthening portion overlying the actual nose cap.

Similarly the nose member, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be attached by means of a rivet 23 to the bar 21 or it may be otherwise attached.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the way in which the modified nose cap and nose member cooperate to produce the desired effect. Fig. 3 shows the window in its closed position and Fig. 4 shows the window after it has started to open and shows how the cooperation between the cam 19 and the surface 22 cause the upper end of the window surround to move outwardly relatively to the window frame.

The nose cap and the nose member may be of moulded plastics material as shown or they may be made of metal.

Claims

1. A friction supporting stay for windows or doors comprising a track member, adapted to be secured to a window or door frame, and a bar adapted to be secured to the window or the door, the bar being pivotally supported from the track by struts, the bar having a nose member adapted to engage in a nose cap on the track member, the inner surface of the nose cap being so shaped that the nose member will be guided so that the bar will move outwardly away from the window or door frame during the initial movement of the window or door, thus preventing the window or door surround from scraping the window or door frame during said initial movement.

2. A friction supporting stay according to claim 1 and in which the inner surface of the nose cap, within which the nose member fits, acts as a cam surface and the nose cap itself acts as a cam so as to guide the bar relatively to the track member.

3. A stay according to claim 2 and in which the cam surface comprises a rounded portion and the cam also comprises a rounded portion so that initial rotational movement of the bar relatively to the strut causes the rounded portion of the cam to contact the rounded portion of the cam surface resulting in a rotational movement so that the initial movement of the bar is outwardly away from the frame.

4. A strut according claim 3 and in which the cam surface also has a straight portion which, during a subsequent part of the opening movement causes linear movement of the bar outwardly and downwardly away from the frame.

5. A strut according to any of claims 2 to 4 and in which the inner surface of the nose cap is formed in a plastic nose cap fitted to the track and the cam surface is formed on a plastic nose member fitted to the bar.

6. A strut according to any of claims 2 to 5 and in which the nose portion is cut away below the cam surface so that it will not jam but will move smoothly.

7. A friction supporting stay for a window or a door substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.