IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WINDOW SUPPORTS

Abstract: A window friction stay comprises an open-topped track (10) to be fixed to a window frame, and a link arrangement including an elongate member (16) to be mounted on the window sash. The link arrangement is pivotally mounted on a slider (22) which is slidably located in the track (10). The slider (22) has a stepped cross-section whereby it can be retained in the track (10) and is formed of a moulded plastics material having an internally threaded blind recess (44) opening onto a face (46) remote from the track (10). The recess (44) receives a grub screw (48) which bears on a relatively thin area of the plastics material to deform the material of that area into contact with the bottom of the track (10) whereby to effect the friction engagement between the slider (22) and the track (10). The elongate member (16) is stepped along its length to provide a raised section (52) and enables connection to the window sash but, when used with windows having corner pieces of moulded plastics, avoids fouling of the respective corner piece.

Description: Improvements in or Relating to Window Supports 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 a horizontal axis and the axis of pivoting of the window moves away from the window frame, so that when the window is open, both sides thereof can be accessible from one side of the window frame . According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for supporting a component for movement thereof 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, and means pivotally mounting the first member on a second member which is adapted to be secured to the fixture opening, the mounting means including a part which is slidably arranged in a track of the second member, the slidable part being formed of such a material that engage¬ ment therewith of control means effects a frictional engagement between the slidable part and the track. The slidable part may be formed with a recess opening onto that face thereof remote from the track, the control means being located in the recess- Preferably the slidable part is formed of a plastics material, the control means terminating short of the face of the slidable part adjacent to the track in engagement with an area of the plastics material which is deformable so as to effect the frictional engagement. Preferably also the recess is internally threaded and the control member comprises a screw which is thread- ably received in the recess so as to bear on the deform¬ able area of the plastics material. According to the present invention there is also provided apparatus for supporting a component for movement thereof 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 and intermediate members pivotally mounting the first member on a second member which is adapted to be secured to the fixture opening, the first member being arranged to over¬ lie the intermediate members and the track in the closed position and being formed of two interconnected sections extending in different planes, the location of inter¬ connection being so arranged as to accommodate components formed with independent corner sections. 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 plan view of a window support ' apparatus shown in partly opened position; Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 111—111 of Fig, 1. Referring to 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 fixed on a lower horizontal part of a window frame (not shown) by means of any suitable fixing devices engaged through apertures 14 in the base of the track 10. A further track 10 is inverted and secured to a horizontal upper member of the window frame. The 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 pivot member 18, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the track 10 towards one end thereof. At the end remote from the pivot member 18, the support member 16 is pivotally mounted on one end of a link 20, the other end of the link 20 being pivotally 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 the link 24 being pivotally mounted on the pivot member 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 as is hereinafter described. On the raised section 26 of the pivot member 18 there is mounted, on a lower side of the latter, . a spacer pad 32 preferably formed of a plastics material. The pad 32 is of circular shape, being secured to the pivot member 18 by a rivet 34 through a central aperture of the pad 32. The pad 32 has a diameter not substantially greater than the width of the pivot member 18 so that the pad 32 does not protrude substantially beyond the edges of the latter and possibly foul the rebate on the window. At the end remote from the pivot mounting for the pivot member 18, the track 10 is closed by a member 38. The closure member 38 has such a width as to enable sliding location within the track 10 below the walls 12 thereof. A profiled outer end part 40, upstanding from the main part of the closure member 38, provides a cam surface for the support member 16 as hereinafter described . The slider 22 has a stepped cross-section (Fig. 3) to provide longitudinal edge sections 42 which engage below the upper walls 12 of the track 10 so as to retain the slider 22 within the track 10. The slider 22 is pref¬ erably formed of a moulded plastics material, for example acetal resin, and is provided with suitable apertures for the pivotal connections of the links 20, 24. Towards one end, the end remote from the pivotal connection of the link 24, the slider 22 is formed with an internally threaded blind recess 44 which opens onto the face 46 remote from the track 10. The recess 44 is adapted to receive a grub screw 48 so that the inner end of the screw 48 bears on a relatively thin area of the plastics mater¬ ial and can deform the material at that area into contact with the bottom of the track 10 whereby to effect a frictional engagement between the slider 22 and the track 10. Such a slider provides a more compact and easily manufactured construction than previously proposed sliders provided with recesses in which friction pads are located. As an alternative, the recess may be in the form of a through opening in the slider but having a lower inter¬ nal shoulder defining the thin area of material engaged by the grub screw. This arrangement facilitates manufacture. In use, the support-member 16 may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a closed position wherein the support member 16 overlies the pivot member 18 and the links 20, 24 and 30, and the latter in turn overlie the track 10. It will be appreciated that in the closed posi¬ tion 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. The angular extent of opening the window is limited by a stop 50 formed in the base of the track 10. The end of the support member to which the link 20 is connected is profiled so as to co¬ operate with the cam surface of the end part 40 of the closure member 38, when the link arrangement moves to the closed position. The extending side edges of the end part 40 avoid any fouling with the profiled end of the support member 16 even when the link arrangement is designed for increased opening of the window, particularly to provide for cleaning of windows with plastics frames. The window can be retained in any desired angular position princip¬ ally due to the frictional engagement between the slider 22 and the track 10. To provide for use with windows having independent corner pieces, for example corner pieces moulded from plastics material, or welded, extruded or cast corner pieces, the support member 16, which is stepped along its length to provide a raised section 52 so as to provide clearance for the links 18, 24, is stepped inwardly of the profiled end by a distance greater than that previously proposed. This increased spacing and the consequent loca¬ tion of fixing holes for connection of the support member 16 to the window sash, avoids fouling of the respective independent corner piece. When the link arrangement with the window moves to a closed position, the pad 32 acts to occupy the space between the pivot member 18 and the track 10, and thereby maintains the parallel relationship therebetween. This is desirable as the weight of the window can tend to affect such a parallel relationship and that in turn will be detrimental to the efficient operation of the link arrangement . I Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example it will be appreciated that the location of the recess for the grub screw in the slider may be other than that shown relative to the pivotal connections for the links. Also the slider may be formed of other suitable materials provided the grub screw can effect a frictional engagement between the slider material and the track.

Claims: Claims : 1. Apparatus for supporting a component for movement thereof 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, and means pivotally mounting the first member on a second member which is adapted to be secured to the fixture opening, the mounting means including a part which is slidably arranged in a track of the second member, charac¬ terised in that the slidable part (22) is formed of such a material that engagement therewith of control means (48) effects a frictional engagement between the slidable part (22) and the track (10) . 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , characterised in that the slidable part (22) is formed with a recess (44) opening onto that face thereof remote from the track (10), the control means (48) being located in the recess (44). 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the slidable part (22) is formed of a plastics material, the control means (48) terminating short of the face of the slidable part (22) adjacent to the track (10) in engagement with an area of the plastics material which is deformable so as to effect the frictional engagement. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the recess (44) is internally threaded and the control member comprises a screw (48) which is threadably received in the recess (44) so as to bear on the deform- able area of the plastics material. 5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the slidable part (22) is formed of a moulded plastics material. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the plastics material is acetal resin. 7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the link arrangement includes a further member (18) which is stepped along its length to provide a raised section (26), a spacer pad (32) being mounted on the latter. 8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, on that end of the track (10) towards which the slidable part (22) is located in the closed position of the component, the track (10) has a closure member (38) providing a cam surface for the first member (16). 9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the link arrangement includes inter¬ mediate members (18,20,24), the first member (16) being arranged to overlie the intermediate members (18,20,24) and the track (10) in the closed position and being formed of two interconnected sections extending in different planes, the location of interconnection being so arranged as to accommodate components formed with independent corner sections. 10. Apparatus for supporting a component for movement thereof 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 . and intermediate members pivotally mounting the first member on a second member which is adapted to be secured to the fixture opening, the first member being arranged to overlie the intermediate members and the track in the closed position, characterised in that the first member (16) is formed of two interconnected sections extending in different planes, the location of interconnection being so arranged as to accommodate components formed with independent corner sec )ions.

Inventors: POCOCK DEREK WILLIAM, POCOCK, DEREK, WILLIAM
Applicants: DGS HARDWARE LTD
Application year: 1987
Main classification: E05D15
IPC codes: E05D15