Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~0659~q
1 This invention relates to windows and the provision
of screens therefor, e.g. to exclude insects. The term
"window" is intended to include all closable apertures in
e.g. a building or a caravan, and may thus refer to doors
or shutters, whether glazed or not.
In hot climates e~pecially, windows are often left
open, even at night, so as to allow free circulation of
air. In order to keep out insects such as mosquitos,
it is known to fit the window openings with mesh screens.
With hitherto known constructions, however, an aperture
has been left in the screen to allow a window stay to
pass through; the protection against insects offered by
such arrangements was thus incomplete.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a mesh screen panel for fitment within a
window frame, said panel including a securing device
having means engageable with a window stay passing there-
through whereby to lock the stay in place. The device
is shaped to fit closely around the stay when said
means are so engaged (the term "fit closely" is herein
used to denote not necessarily an exact tight or even
sliding fit, but extends also to situations which do
leave slight gaps) in order to minimise the possibility
of insects entering via the window. The term mesh
screen panel here includes the parts that are fast with it.
The invention also provides a window assembly comprising
a mesh screen panel as just defined, a closure panel
movable relative thereto, and a stay for control of
the movement.
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106591~7
l Preferably, the stay comprises a number of location
holes in a rigid elongate member, the securing device
including a peg which can be moved into any of said
holes according to the degree of window opening desired.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the securing
device comprises a first, fixed plate and a second plate
slidable relative thereto incorporating a peg for
engagement with the stay, said plates being profiles
to fit closely around respective sides of the stay cross-
section.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig, 1 is a general view of a window according tothe invention; and
Fig. 2 shows part of Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale.
Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a window
assembly 2 comprising an outer frame 4 set in a wall 6.
A glazed window panel 8 is hinged to the upper part of
the frame 4 to open outwards of the wall. A mesh screen
panel comprising a frame 12 and a glass-fibre mesh 10
is secured in outer frame 4. A rubber seal (not shown)
is fitted to panel 8 to seal it against frame 4.
An elongate stay 14 is pivotally attached to the
window panel at 16. ~he stay has a series of holes 18
along its length which are used in conjunction with
securing device 24 to control the degree of window opening;
this is described more fully below. In order to lock
the window shut, the stay is pivoted to lie alongside
the lower horizontal part of frame 12, pressed against
post 20 and slipped under a lip on catch 22.
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11)6S9~7
l The securing device is shown in more detail in Fig. 2.
A metal back plate 26 is screwed to frame 12 at 28 and
has its side edges 30 turned over to provide a guide
channel for a slidable locking plate 32. A screw 34
acting on spring washer 36 is located in a slot 38, so
that the locking plate is secured to the back plate but
can slide up and down relative to it. A tab 40 is used
to effect such movement.
The back plate 26 incorporates an aperture 42 through
which stay 14 can pass; only the lower part of this
aperture is visible in the figure and is configured to
match the profile of the lower side of the stay - in this
case an aluminium extrusion of inverted U-form cross-
section. The aperture thus comprises two downwardly-directed
arms 42a with a tongue 44 projecting between them.
The lower edge of the locking plate 32 is similarly
profiled to match the upper part of the stay cross-section.
The cut-out portion is additionally provided, however, with
a peg 46 for location in any one of holes 18 of the stay.
Thus when the locking plate is slid to its lower position
(as shown in ~ig. 2) not only does the engagement of the
peg in the stay hold the window open at any desired
angle, but the respective profiles of the backing and locking
plates also cooperate to fit snugly around the stay to
deny insects any passage.
In the embodiment just described the various frames,
as well as the stay, are made from aluminium extrusions;
other materials, such as wood or metal castings can also
be used. Similarly, any suitable mesh material can be
employed, the choice of mesh size depending on the
intended application.
10659~7
l A number of other arrangements are envisaged as
embodying the invention. For example, it may not
always be convenient that the backing plate exhibit a
tongue 44 t~ fit into the underside of the stay, for it
will normally be necessary for pivot 16 to pass through
the securing device when the window is shut; the
unillustrated portion of aperture 42 may provide
sufficient passage depending on the pivot arrangement)
when the slidable plate is lifted. The same problem
may arise if the aperture in the backing plate is
configured to fit closely around the whole of the stay
cross-section, with the sliding plate having a locking
function only.
In such cases, the stay cross-section may be
selected so ~ to display no re-entrant portion, e.g, a
square instead of U-form cross-section, and the tongue
can be dispensed with. Alternatively, the stay may have
transverse webs adjacent holes 18 so as to give an
equivalent cross-section at those regions only. Another
solution, which is more economlcal in terms of metal used,
and in which the stay can be made as an extrusion, is
that the holes 18 be formed as transverse slots extending
the whole width of the stay between the arms of the U.
Peg 46 can then be enlarged to replace tongue 44 whilst
still acting as an engagement member.
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