NZ247212A - Safety catch for window stay : arm at end of sash plate - Google Patents

Description

24 7 2 12 ■\ e. n r 18 MAR 1994 PATENTS FORM 5 Number 247212 PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated March 19, 1993 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION WINDOW STAY SAFETY CATCH I, RONALD PERCIVAL DAVIS, a New Zealand citizen, of 77 Breaker Bay Road, Seatoun, Wellington, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement. 24 7 2 12 FIELD OF INVENTION My present invention comprises a safety catch for a window stay which limits the angle of opening of the window stay and a window sash carried by the stay, when the safety catch is in use.

BACKGROUND Various devices for limiting the angle or extent by which a window may be opened are known. Such devices are used in multi-storied buildings for example, for safety reasons. A disadvantage with some known forms of devices is that they fit to the frame and sash such that they are visible and they thus mar the otherwise clean appearance of the window.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides an improved or at least alternative form of safety catch for a window stay.

In broad terms the invention may be said to comprise a window stay incorporating a safety catch, comprising an arm pivotally connected at one end to the sash mounting member of the window stay, a protrusion on the other end of said arm, and a slot and/or one or more holes in the long arm of the window stay into which the protrusion may be engaged with the length of the arm being such that when the protrusion is entered into the slot or hole the stay may be opened only to a limited extent. 347212 DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A preferred form of the safety catch of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a view of a window stay incorporating the preferred form safety catch from one side, shown with the safety catch engaged and the stay opened as much as is possible when the safety catch is engaged in hard outline and showing in phantom outline the position of the safety catch when not engaged, Fig. 2 is a view of the stay of Fig. 1 with the preferred form safety catch, in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the stay with the preferred form safety catch shown engaged, and Fig. 3A is a view in the direction of arrow B of Fig. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The stay shown in the drawings has a frame plate 1 and sash plate 2 which when the stay is fitted to a window are attached to the window frame and sash as is known in the art. The stay has interconnecting arms including a long arm 3 which form the geometry of the stay. The safety catch of the invention 24 72 1 may be employed with any type of stay and not solely with the stay geometry shown in the drawings.

The sash plate 2 has an extending end 2a. In Fig. 1 the stay is shown opened to the full extent possible with the safety catch engaged. When the safety catch is not engaged the stay can be fully opened. The safety catch comprises an arm 4 pivot ally coupled at one end to the extending end 2 a of the sash plate 2. The other end of the arm 4 has a protrusion 5. The stay long arm 3 has a slot 6 above the lower arm to frame plate bearing 7 as shown.

The arrangement is such that the protrusion 5 may entered into or removed from the slot 6 to engage or disengage the safety catch respectively. When entered into the slot 6, during subsequent opening and closing of the stay the protrusion 5 slides within the slot. The arm 4 thus linking the sash plate and lower arm when the safety catch is engaged limits the possible angle of opening of the stay. When the protrusion 5 is disengaged from the slot 6 the stay may operate in its normal manner. When the safety catch is not in use the arm 4 is preferably moved to the position shown in phantom outline at 4a in Fig. 1 to be aligned out of the way with the window sash. The arm 4 is connected to the end 2a of the sash plate by a friction pivot joint so that it will remain in this position aligned with the sash when not in use and will not flop about. -4 24 72 12 Optionally the protrusion 5 may have an enlarged head. An enlarged entry hole may be formed near the bottom end or midway along the slot 6. The head of the protrusion is wider than the width of the slot 6 but narrower than the diameter of the entry hole so that the safety catch may not be engaged or disengaged in anything other than one particular position. This makes it more difficult for children, for example, to disengage the safety catch since it is only possible to do this with the window in one particular position when the protrusion and entry hole are aligned.

Instead of the slot 6 a single hole may be provided in the stay arm 3 into which the protrusion 5 of the arm 4 may be engaged to provide for a single opening position of the window sash when the safety catch is engaged. Again, instead of a single hole two or more such holes may be provided to provide for two or more fixed positions of opening with the safety catching gage.

The device is unobtrusive and not readily visible in appearance.

The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form there. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof as defined in the following claims.

Claims (2)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A window stay incorporating a safety catch, comprising an arm pivotally connected at one end to the sash mounting member of the window stay, a protrusion on the other end of said arm, and a slot and/or one or more holes in an arm of the window stay into which the protrusion can be engaged with the length of the arm being such that when the protrusion is entered into the slot or hole the stay can be opened only to a limited extent.

2. A window stay incorporating a safety catch substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. GREG WEST-WALKER AND COMPANY 6