GB2198178A

GB2198178A - Fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2198178A
Application number: GB08629118A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Trevor-Jones
Original assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
Current assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
Priority date: 1986-12-05
Filing date: 1986-12-05
Publication date: 1988-06-08
Also published as: GB8629118D0; AU591783B2; AU7415487A

Abstract

The fastener e.g. for a closure member of a window comprises an operating member 10 mounted on a support 12 for movement relative thereto and a key-receiving barrel 23 mounted in a bore 21 of the operating member 10 for rotation therein about lock axis 22. The barrel 23 containing tumblers 25; a cam mechanism acts between the barrel 23 and operating member 10 to cause movement of barrel 23 along axis 22 relative to member 10 between first and second positions when the barrel 23 is turned, the barrel 23 having an element which engages an abutment on support 12 when barrel 23 is in the first position. As shown, member 10 incorporates a handle 11 mounted for pivoting on support 12 and with one or more spurs 20 for cooperation with a keeper on a frame. The cam mechanism comprises a cam slot 28 on the barrel 23 or operating member 10 and a follower (pin 29) on member 10 or barrel 23 respectively. When barrel 23 is turned by key 27, portion 30 of barrel 23 is withdrawn from well 15 in support 12. Movement of member 10 relative to support 12 may be limited by projection occupying recesses 33, 34. Spurs 20 may be omitted and a cam mechanism may have drive transmitted thereto from member 10 to drive a bolt. <IMAGE>

Description

"Fastener" Description of Invention The present invention relates to a fastener of the kind comprising a support, an operating member mounted on the support for movement relative thereto and a key-operated lock mechanism for releasably locking the operating member against movement relative to the support. Fasteners of the kind described are commonly used for fastening in a closed position windows and other closure members. Generally, the operating member incorporates a handle to facilitate application by the user to the operating member of a force which moves the operating member between fastening and releasing positions.

According to the present invention, the lock mechanism of a fastener of the kind described includes a key-receiving member defining a key-receiving passage and a plurality of tumblers mounted in the key-receiving member, the key-receiving member being mounted in an opening defined by the operating member for turning relative to the operating member about a lock axis, the fastener comprising a cam mechanism acting between the keyreceiving member and the operating member to cause movement of the keyreceiving member relative to the operating member along the lock axis between first and second positions when the key-receiving member is turned relative to the operating member and wherein the key-receiving member has an element which engages an abutment on the support to restrain said movement of the operating member relative to the support when the keyreceiving member is in the first position.

An example of a fastener embodying the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: FIGURE I shows a side elevation of the fastener in a locked condition, a part of an operating member of the fastener being broken away to reveal internal parts; FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of the fastener; and FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the fastener in an unlocked condition.

The fastener illustrated in the drawing comprises an operating member 10 incorporating an elongated handle 11 and further comprises a support 12.

The operating member is mounted on the support for pivoting relative thereto about an axis 13 which may lie at the centre of the support. The handle II is spaced from the pivot axis.

The support 12 is of plate-like form and is elongated, as viewed in plan.

Near to both of its ends, the plate defines respective wells 14 and 15 which may be identical one with the other. At the bottom of each well, there is formed one or more apertures 16 to receive screws or other fastening elements for attaching the fastener to a closure member, for example a hinged member of a window. At the centre of the support, there is a bore 17 which receives a spigot 18 of the operating member 10 to provide the pivotal connection between the operating member and support. The spigot is retained in the bore 17 by a screw 19 and a washer.

One or more spurs 20 project from the operating member 10 generally radially with respect to the pivot axis 13 for co-operation with a keeper on a frame in which the closure member is mounted.

The operating member defines a bore 21 which lies between the handle I I and the pivot axis 13 so that the axis 22 of the bore (called herein the lock axis) is parallel to but spaced from the pivot axis. A key-receiving barrel 23 is mounted in the bore 21 for rotation therein relative to the operating member. The barrel defines a key-receiving slot 24 and contains a number of tumblers 25 arranged in a known manner to project radially from the barrel 23 when the key is absent. Projecting end portions of the tumblers then lie in one or other of a pair of diametrically opposite grooves 26 defined in the surface of the bore 21. All of the tumblers may project into the same one of the grooves 26. Alternatively, some tumblers may project into one groove and other tumblers into the other groove.In either case, the projecting end portions of the tumblers restrain the barrel 23 against rotation relative to the operating member 10.

There is provided a key 27 which can be inserted into the slot 24 to engage the tumblers 25 and withdraw the tumblers from the groove or grooves 26, thereby freeing the barrel 23 for turning relative to the operating member. There is associated with the barrel 23 and operating member a cam mechanism which causes movement of the barrel along the axis 22 relative to the operating member when the barrel is turned by means of the key. The cam mechanism incorporates a follower on one of the operating member and barrel engaging in a cams lot defined by the other of the operating member and the barrel.In the example illustrated, the barrel 23 defines the camslot 28 and the follower is in the form of a pin 29, one part of which lies in an aperture formed in the operating member 10 and a further part of which lies in the camslot. The camslot is of generally helical form and may subtend at the axis 22 an angle substantially less than 360q for example an angle within the range 1800 to 2000. With this arrangement, engagement of the pin 29 with opposite end boundaries of the camslot limits turning of the barrel relative to the operating member to a range of approximately 1800.

When the pin 29 occupies one end portion of the cams lot 28, the barrel 23 is in a first position, illustrated in Figure 1, in which an end portion 30 of the barrel protrudes from the bore of the operating member 10 into the well 15. A side wall of the well thus constitutes an abutment on the support 12 which restrains turning of the barrel and operating member about the pivot axis 13 relative to the support. If the key 27 is withdrawn from the barrel 23 whilst the barrel is in its first position, end portions of the tumblers 25 move into one or other of the grooves 26 and lock the barrel against turning relative to the operating member.

t If the barrel 23 is turned, by means of the key, to a second position, in which the pin 29 occupies the opposite end portion of the camslot 28, the end portion 30 of the barrel is withdrawn from the well IS, thereby freeing the operating member for turning relative to the support. When the barrel is in its second position, an end portion of the barrel remote from the endiportion 30 protrudes considerably from outer surfaces 31 and 32 of the operating member. In its first position, the barrel does not protrude substantially from the surface 31 and protrudes from the surface 32 less than is the case when the barrel is in its second position. Thus, the appearance of the fastener provides a clear indication as to whether the fastener is in a locked or unlocked condition.

The fastener illustrated in the drawing may be modified by omission of the spurs 20 and substitution for the retaining screw 19 of a shaft which is able to transmit drive from the operating member 10 to a cam mechanism or other associated part of a fastener assembly. This modification is suitable for use in a case where the operating member is required to move a bolt which is remote from the operating member.

The end portion 30 of the barrel is preferably cylindrical and coaxial with the bore 21, so that turning of the barrel does not vary the relation between the end portion of the barrel and the abutment of the support 12. It will be noted that no member is interposed between the barrel 23 and the operating member 10, the latter serving as a tumbler housing.

To limit the angle through which the operating member 10 can be pivoted relative to the support 12, the operating member may be provided with a projection which, when the fastener is in the condition illustrated in Figures I and 2, occupies a recess 33 in the support 12 and which, when the operating member is turned to the opposite extreme position with respect to the support, occupies a further recess 34 in the support.

The barrel 23 is assembled with the operating member 10 merely by inserting the barrel into the bore 21 to align the camslot 28 with the aperture in the operating member and then driving the pin 29 into the aperture and into the cams lot. The pin then retains the barrel 23 in the operating member and no additional components for mounting or securing the barrel are required. Both the barrel 23 and the operating member 10 may be formed by die-casting an alloy.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

I. A fastener which includes a support, an operating member mounted on the support for movement relative thereto and a key-operated lock mechanism for releasably locking the operating member against movement relative to the support, the lock mechanism including a key-receiving member defining a key-receiving passage and a plurality of tumblers mounted in the key-receiving member, the key-receiving member being mounted in an opening defined by the operating member for turning relative to the operating member about a lock axis and the fastener being characterised by a cam mechanism which acts between the key-receiving member and the operating member to cause movement of the key-receiving member relative to the operating member along the lock axis between first and second positions when the key-receiving member is turned relative to the operating member and in that the key-receiving member has an element which engages an abutment on the support to restrain said relative movement when the keyreceiving member is in said first position.
2. A fastener according to Claim I wherein the operating member incorporates a handle.
3. A fastener according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the operating member is mounted on the support for pivoting relative thereto about a pivot axis which is spaced from the lock axis.
4. A fastener according to Claim 3 wherein the lock axis is parallel to the pivot axis.
5. A fastener according to any preceding Claim wherein said element of the key-receiving member presents for engagement with the abutment a surface which defines an arc of a circle centered on the lock axis.
6. A fastener according to any preceding Claim wherein the cam mechanism comprises a follower which moves in a cam slot when the key receiving member is moved relative to the operating member and which follower limits movement of the key-receiving member relative to the operating member.
7. A fastener according to Claim 6 wherein the key-receiving member defines the camslot.
8. A fastener according to Claim 7 wherein the follower is formed separately from and is fixed with respect to the operating member.
9. A fastener according to any preceding Claim wherein, in its second position, the key-receiving member protrudes from a surface of the operating member and wherein, in its first position, the key-receiving member protrudes less or not at all from that surface of the operating member.
10. A fastener substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

II. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.