Sash window restrictor

A sliding system comprising:

• a first member;
• a second member, the second member being slidably moveable with respect to the first member between a first range of positions and a second range of positions, and the second member having a first surface substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of the second member and a second surface substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the second member;
• and
• a restrictor, the restrictor comprising:
• a housing, a tab moveable with respect to the housing between a restricting position in which the tab extends from a face of the housing and at least one retracted position in which the tab is located substantially within the housing, and means for urging the tab into the restricting position relative to the housing,
• the restrictor being configured such that when the tab is in the restricting position, upon movement of the second member from a position in the first range of positions toward the second range of positions, an edge of the tab contacts the first surface of the second member to prevent the second member moving from said first range of positions to said second range of positions, and wherein:
• the tab can be manually moved from the restricting position to a retracted position to enable the second member to move relative to the housing into said second range of positions,
• the second member contacts the tab as the second member is moved from the first range of positions to the second range of positions,
• the tab remains in a retracted position while the second member is in said second range of positions by contact of the second surface of the second member with the tab, and
• the tab automatically moves into the restricting position when the second member is returned to the first range of positions.

A restrictor for restricting the movement of a sash window at least from a first position to a second position, the restrictor comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• a tab,
• the tab moveable with respect to the housing between at least a first restricting position and at least first and second retracted positions,
• the tab extending from a face of the housing in the first restricting position,
• at least a portion of the tab in the housing in the first retracted position
• at least a portion of the tab in the housing in the second retracted position,
• wherein:
• in the first retracted position, the tab is in a first position with respect to the housing,
• in the second retracted position, the tab is in a second position with respect to the housing,
• the second position with respect to the housing is different from the first position with respect to the housing,
• the restrictor can be positioned relative to the sash window such that:
• when the tab is in the first restricting position, an edge of the tab prevents the sash window from moving from the first position to the second position,
• the tab can be moved from the first restricting position to the first retracted position with respect to the housing to enable the sash window to be moved relative to the housing from the first position to the second position, and
• moving the sash window from the first position to the second position results in the tab moving from the first retracted position to the second retracted position.

A restrictor, comprising:

• a housing;
• a tab pivotally mounted on the housing;
• and
• a pushing element,
• the tab pivotally movable relative to the housing about a pivot axis among at least a first pivot position, a second pivot position and a third pivot position,
• an entirety of the housing to a second side of a first plane,
• in the first pivot position, a portion of the tab that protrudes from an opening in the housing to a first side of the first plane would prevent a window sash structure, that has a flat front surface and a flat top surface, the flat top surface perpendicular to the flat front surface, from being moved, with the flat front surface moving along the first plane in a first direction perpendicular to a plane defined by said flat top surface toward where the flat top surface comes into contact with the tab, past where the flat top surface contacts the tab,
• in the second pivot position, a portion of the tab that protrudes from the opening in the housing to the first side of the first plane would not prevent said window sash structure from being moved, with the flat front surface moving along the first plane in the first direction, into contact with the tab and then beyond where the window sash structure contacts the tab,
• in the third pivot position, an entirety of the tab is to the second side of the first plane,
• with the tab in the second pivot position, moving said window sash structure such that the flat front surface moves along the first plane in the first direction such that a first portion of the flat front surface moves past the tab, would cause the window sash structure to contact a portion of the tab protruding from the opening, and thereby (1) cause the tab to move from the second pivot position to the third pivot position, and (2) cause the tab to come into contact along a second portion of the flat front surface whereby the contact between the tab and the second portion of the flat front surface prevents the tab from being pushed by the pushing element toward the first pivot position, and
• with the tab in the third pivot position, moving said window sash structure such that the flat front surface moves along the first plane in a second direction, the second direction opposite the first direction, such that said first portion of the flat front surface moves past the tab in the second direction, so that the flat front surface reaches a position at which no portion of the flat front surface blocks the tab from being pushed by the pushing element, would allow the pushing element to move the tab from the third pivot position to the first pivot position.

A restrictor, comprising:

• a housing;
• a tab;
• and
• a pushing element,
• an entirety of the housing to a second side of a first plane,
• the tab movable relative to the housing among at least a first tab position, a second tab position and a third tab position,
• in the first tab position, a first portion of the tab protrudes a first distance from an opening in the housing to a first side of the first plane,
• in the second tab position, the first portion of the tab protrudes a second distance from the opening in the housing to the first side of the first plane,
• the second distance smaller than the first distance,
• in the third tab position, an entirety of the tab is to the second side of the first plane,
• pressing the tab from the first tab position to the third tab position and releasing the tab causes the tab to move to the second tab position,
• pressing the tab from the second tab position to the third tab position and releasing the tab causes the tab to move to the first tab position, and
• the first portion of the tab has a sloped surface that defines a sloped angle with respect to the first plane.

A sliding system, comprising:

• at least a first member and a second member;
• and
• a restrictor,
• at least the second member being movable relative to the first member between at least a first closed position and at least a first open position,
• the second member having a first surface substantially aligned in a first plane, the first member having a second surface substantially aligned in a second plane, the second plane substantially parallel to the first plane,
• the restrictor comprising a housing, a tab and a pushing element,
• an entirety of the housing to a second side of a first plane,
• the tab movable relative to the housing among at least a first tab position, a second tab position and a third tab position,
• in the first tab position, a first portion of the tab protrudes a first distance from an opening in the housing to a first side of the first plane,
• in the second tab position, the first portion of the tab protrudes a second distance from the opening in the housing to the first side of the first plane,
• the second distance smaller than the first distance,
• in the third tab position, an entirety of the tab is to the second side of the first plane,
• pressing the tab from the first tab position to the third tab position and releasing the tab causes the tab to move to the second tab position,
• pressing the tab from the second tab position to the third tab position and releasing the tab causes the tab to move to the first tab position, and
• the first portion of the tab has a sloped surface that defines a sloped angle with respect to the first plane.