Sash window restrictor
A sash window restrictor ( 20 ) has a housing ( 22 ) which is to be let into a vertical frame member ( 10 ) of one sash (normally the upper, outer sash) of a window, at a position, say, 10 cm above the top rail of the lower sash when the windows are closed. A tab ( 24 ) is mounted in the housing and can be retracted into the housing or extended from the housing. A mechanism acts between the tab and the housing and allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and held in the housing for a period of time before the tab is released to allow the tab to extend. With the tab extended, the lower sash ( 12 ) can be lifted until it reaches the tab ( 24 ) but no further, so that a 10 cm gap will be opened at the bottom of the window.
1. A restrictor, comprising:
a housing;
a tab pivotally mounted on the housing;
a pushing element; and
a restraining element,
the tab comprising a first arm and a second arm,
the tab being pivotally movable relative to the housing between:
at least a first pivot position, in which the restraining element is in a disengaged arrangement and at least a portion of the first arm is on a first side of a first plane and an entirety of the second arm is on a second side of the first plane, and
a second pivot position, in which:
the restraining element is engaged, and the restraining element prevents the tab from pivoting,
an entirety of the first arm is on the second side of the first plane,
at least a portion of the second arm is on the first side of the first plane, and
at least a portion of the second arm protrudes from the housing,
the pushing element biasing the tab to pivot toward the first pivot position,
with the restraining element engaged, the restraining element can be disengaged by pressing the second arm, such that the pushing element causes the tab to pivot toward the first pivot position.
2. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the tab is pivotally movable relative to the housing among at least the first pivot position, the second pivot position and a third pivot position in which the restraining element is in a disengaged arrangement,
the tab is movable from the first pivot position to the second pivot position by applying force to the first arm and pushing the first arm to pivot the tab until the restraining element changes to an engaged arrangement,
the tab is automatically moved from the second pivot position to the third pivot position by moving a substantially flat surface of a structure along the first plane and in contact with the second arm, and
the tab is automatically moved from the third pivot position to the first pivot position by moving the substantially flat surface of a structure to a position where it is not in contact with the first arm.
3. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the restraining element can be changed from an engaged arrangement to a disengaged arrangement by applying a force to the second arm.
4. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the restraining element can be changed from a disengaged arrangement to an engaged arrangement by pivoting the tab.
5. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the restraining element can be changed from an engaged arrangement to a disengaged arrangement by moving a substantially flat surface of a structure along the first plane and in contact with the second arm.
6. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one surface that is substantially parallel to the first plane.
7. A restrictor as recited in claim 6 , wherein a plurality of apertures are provided that extend through the at least one surface of the housing that is substantially parallel to the first plane, each of the apertures having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
8. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the housing is on the second side of the first plane.
9. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the restrictor, except for at least: a portion of the second arm, is on the second side of the first plane if the tab is in the second pivot position.
10. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pushing element comprises a spring.
11. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the restraining element comprises a magnet.
12. A restrictor as recited in claim 11 , wherein the magnet is located on the first arm.
13. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the restraining element comprises a snap.
14. A restrictor as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the housing comprises structure that defines a recess, and
the first arm protrudes from the recess if the tab is in the first pivot position.
15. A restrictor, comprising:
a housing;
a tab pivotally mounted on the housing;
a pushing element; and
a restraining element,
the tab being pivotally movable relative to the housing between at least:
a first pivot position, and
a second pivot position in which the restrictor is in an engaged arrangement, in which the pushing element biases the tab to pivot away from the second pivot position toward the first pivot position and the restraining element prevents the tab from being pivoted by the bias of the pushing element, and
a third pivot position in which the restraining element is in a disengaged arrangement, in which the restraining element does not prevent the pushing element from pivoting the tab,
contacting the tab with a substantially fiat surface of a structure by moving the substantially flat surface of the structure along a first plane defined by the substantially flat surface can cause the restraining element to be automatically changed from the engaged arrangement to the disengaged arrangement.
16. A restrictor as recited in claim 15 , wherein:
the tab is movable from the first pivot position to the second pivot position by applying force to the tab and pushing the tab to pivot the tab until the restraining element changes to the engaged arrangement, and
the tab is automatically moved from the third pivot position to the first pivot position by moving the substantially flat surface of a structure to a position where it is not in contact with the tab.
17. A restrictor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the restraining element can be changed from the engaged arrangement to the disengaged arrangement by applying a pivoting force to the tab.
18. A restrictor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the restraining element can be changed from the disengaged arrangement to the engaged arrangement by pivoting the tab.
19. A restrictor as recited in claim 15 , wherein an entirety of the housing is on one side of the first plane.
20. A restrictor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the pushing element comprises a spring.
21. A restrictor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the restraining element comprises a magnet.
22. A restrictor as recited in claim 21 , wherein the magnet is located on a first arm of the tab.
23. A restrictor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the restraining element comprises a snap.
24. A restrictor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises at least one surface that is substantially parallel to the first plane.
25. A restrictor as recited in claim 24 , wherein a plurality of apertures are provided that extend through the at least one surface of the housing that is substantially parallel to the first plane, each of the apertures having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
26. A sliding system, comprising:
at least a first member and a second member,
at least the first member being movable relative to the second member between at least a first closed position and at least a first open position, and
a restrictor,
the first member having a first surface substantially aligned in a first plane, the second member having a second surface substantially aligned in a second plane, the second plane being substantially parallel to the first plane,
the restrictor comprising a housing, a tab, a pushing element and a restraining element, the tab being pivotally movable relative to the housing between at least:
a first pivot position in which the tab prevents movement of the first member relative to the second member from the first closed position beyond a first relative position, and
a second pivot position in which a portion of the tab is at least partially retracted into the housing from the first pivot position, the pushing element biases the tab to pivot away from the second pivot position toward the first pivot position and the restraining element is in an engaged arrangement in which the restraining element prevents the tab from being pivoted by the bias of the pushing element,
movement of the first member from the first closed position, with the restraining element in the engaged arrangement, to the first open position resulting in the first member contacting the tab and causing the restraining element to automatically change to a disengaged arrangement in which the restraining element does not prevent the tab from pivoting by the bias of the pushing element.
27. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein:
the tab comprises a first arm and a second arm,
in the first pivot position, at least a portion of the first arm is on a first side of the first plane and an entirety of the second arm is on a second side of the first plane, and
in the second pivot position, an entirety of the first arm is on the second side of the first plane, and at least a portion of the second arm is on the first side of the first plane.
28. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein the first member at least partially overlaps the second member.
29. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein the first member is a lower sash and the second member is an upper sash.
30. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein movement of the first member from the first open position to the first closed position causes the tab to pivotally move to the first pivot position.
31. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein:
the tab is movable from the first pivot position to the second pivot position by applying force to the tab and pushing the tab to pivot the tab until the restraining element changes to the engaged arrangement.
32. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein the restraining element can be changed from the disengaged arrangement to the engaged arrangement by pivoting the tab.
33. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein an entirety of the housing is on one side of the first plane.
34. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein the housing comprises at least one surface that is substantially parallel to the first plane.
35. A sliding system as recited in claim 34 , wherein a plurality of apertures are provided that extend through the at least one surface of the housing that is substantially parallel to the first plane, each of the apertures having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
36. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein the pushing element comprises a spring.
37. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein the restraining element comprises a magnet.
38. A sliding system as recited in claim 26 , wherein the restraining element comprises a snap.
39. A restrictor, comprising:
a housing;
a tab;
a pushing element;
a restraining element; and
means for selectively preventing movement of a first member that has a first surface substantially aligned in a first plane, relative to a second member that has a second surface substantially aligned in a second plane, the second plane being substantially parallel to the first plane,
movement of the first member in a direction parallel to the first plane causes the first member to contact the tab to disengage the restraining element which, when engaged, prevents the pushing element from pivoting the tab.
40. A restrictor as recited in claim 39 , wherein the housing comprises at least one surface that is substantially parallel to the first plane.
41. A restrictor as recited in claim 40 , wherein a plurality of apertures are provided that extend through the at least one surface of the housing that is substantially parallel to the first plane, each of the apertures having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
42. A restrictor as recited in claim 39 , wherein an entirety of the housing is on one side of the first plane.
43. A restrictor, comprising:
a housing;
a tab pivotally mounted on the housing, the tab pivotable among a first pivot position, a second pivot position and a third pivot position;
means for biasing the tab to pivot from the second pivot position toward the first pivot position; and
means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting from the second pivot position toward the first pivot position,
the means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting in a disengaged arrangement when the tab is in the first pivot position,
the means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting in an engaged arrangement which prevents the means for biasing the tab from causing the tab to pivot toward the first pivot position, when the tab is in the second pivot position,
the means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting in a disengaged arrangement when the tab is in the third pivot position, and
with the means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting in an engaged arrangement, pressing the tab can disengage the means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting.
44. A restrictor as recited in claim 43 , wherein:
the tab is movable from the first pivot position to the second pivot position by applying force to the tab and pushing the tab to pivot the tab until the means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting changes to an engaged arrangement, and
the tab is automatically moved from the third pivot position to the first pivot position by moving the substantially flat surface of a structure to a position where it is not in contact with the tab.
45. A restrictor as recited in claim 43 , wherein the means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting can be changed from an engaged arrangement to a disengaged arrangement by applying a pivoting force to the tab.
46. A restrictor as recited in claim 43 , wherein the means for selectively preventing the tab from pivoting can be changed from a disengaged arrangement to an engaged arrangement by pivoting the tab.
47. A restrictor as recited in claim 43 , wherein an entirety of the housing is on one side of the first plane.
48. A restrictor as recited in claim 43 , wherein the housing comprises at least one surface that is substantially parallel to the first plane.
49. A restrictor as recited in claim 48 , wherein a plurality of apertures are provided that extend through the at least one surface of the housing that is substantially parallel to the first plane, each of the apertures having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
50. A restrictor, comprising:
a housing;
a tab pivotally mounted on the housing; and
a pushing element,
the tab being pivotally movable relative to the housing between at least:
a first pivot position, and
a second pivot position in which the pushing element biases the tab to pivot away from the second pivot position toward the first pivot position and the tab is prevented from being pivoted by the bias of the pushing element, and
a third pivot position in which no portion of the restrictor prevents the pushing element from pivoting the tab toward the first position,
contacting the tab with a substantially flat surface of a structure by moving the substantially flat surface of the structure along a first plane defined by the substantially flat surface can cause the tab to be automatically changed from the second pivot position to the third pivot position.