AU2005100843B4

AU2005100843B4 - Lockable chain winder

Info

Publication number: AU2005100843B4
Application number: AU2005100843A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chuang Shen Wu; Yue Ceng Wu; Jian Wen Zhou
Original assignee: ASIA PACIFIC TRADING AUST Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ASIA PACIFIC TRADING (AUST) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-10-06
Filing date: 2005-10-06
Publication date: 2008-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-06
Also published as: AU2005100843A4

Description

06/10/2005 22:19 0210/0052219 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SEPV PG 31 PAGE 03/18 o LOCKABLE CHAIN WiNDER This invention relates to lockable chain winders of the kind which are suitable for o) use in opening and closing an associated hinged window sash or the like. Although VaO o described herein in relation to window winders, the present invention is not limited to this particular field of application but mray be used with other analogous mechanisms.

There are a number of lockable chain winders for windows available in the 00 o market place and also described or proposed in published literaturetfl For example, Australian patent specification No. 1997171389 (patent No. 702287) o discloses a lockable chain winder having a stop member which is interposed between adjacent teeth of a drive sprocket associated with the chain.

In Australian patent sper-Iflcation 2005100534, there is another lockable window chain winder which has a ratchet coaxiafly mounted with a drive worn gear, the worm gear meshing with a pinion gear coaxially mounted with the chain drive sprocket. A locking rn ember engages with the ratchet to selectively enable rotation of the drive mechanism in one direction but not in the reverse direction.

In Australian patent specification 200037804 there is another lockable window winder disclosed in which there is a detent which can be selectively moved into and out of engagement wit the chain to prevent or enable normal movement of the chain into and out of the housing.

The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art in Australia.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lockable chain winder which is useful for operating an associated window or the like and which enables selective locking of the winder for security or other purposes.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01682394 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:21 Date 2005-10-06 08/10/2008 15:34 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 03/08 00 o According to the present innovation there is provided a lockable chain winder suitable for opening and closing a window, the winder including: 0 a housing, o a chain movable out of and back into the housing, a sprocket located within the housing and engaging with the chain to drive it out Sof and into the housing upon rotation of the sprocket, o a winding mechanism for driving the sprocket, the winding mechanism including o n a driven gear coaxially mounted with the sprocket and a drive gear engaging with the driven gear so that in use the drive gear reversibly imparts rotary driving motion to the driven gear and to the sprocket, locking means selectively operable prevent operation of the winding mechanism to drive the sprocket and associated chain in at least one of the two directions of movement thereof, the locking means including a locking member selectively movable between a locking position in which it engages with the driven, gear of the winding mechanism so as to prevent rotation of the driven gear in at least one of its two possible rotational directions and an unlocked position in which it allows rotational movement of the driven gear in both possible rotational directions.

Preferably the locking member comprises a locking element which, in the locking position, is located between adjacent teeth of the driven gear to thereby interfere with rotational movement of the driven gear and associated sprocket in at least one of the two possible directions of rotational movement. The locking member when in its locking position may be operative to allow rotational movement of the driven, gear and associated sprocket in one rotational direction but not in. the reverse direction, the locking member including a pawl element which in the locking position of the locking member is located between adjacent teeth of the driven gear to prevent rotational movement of the driven 2 COMS ID No: ARCS-209061 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-10-08 06/10/2005 22:19 08/0/005 2219 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PG 51 PAGE 05/18 o gear in a first rotational direction, the pawl element having a ramp surface which upon rotational movement of the driven gear in the opposite direction to the first direction C0 causes the pawl clement to move out of the space between the adjacent teeth of the

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o driven gear thereby enabling rotation of the driven gear in the opposite direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking member is biased into its looking position by a lock biasing means, the locking means including a latch which is operative to 0 o prevent withdrawal of the locking member from its locking position after it has been In advanced from its unlocked position into engagement with the driven gear, the locking o means futher including a key operated lock operatively associated with the latch so that when the lock is operated by turning of the key, the latch associated with the locking member is released to enable retraction of the locking member fr~om its locking position to its unlocked position against the action of the lock biasing means. In this embodiment the locking means may include a looking button which is user operable to initiate movement of the locking member from its unlocked position to its locking position by being depressed by a user, depression of the button enabling the locking member to move under the action of the biasing force of the lock biasing means acting thereon into its locking position, the button being biased away from its depressed position by a button biasing means having a stronger force than the force of the lock biasing means acting on the locking member, the latch being operatively associated with the button so as to latch and hold the button in its depressed position, whereby operation of the lock by turning of the key to release the latch enables the button to return to its undepressed position under the action of the button biasing means, return of the button simultaneously initiating refraction of the locking member from its locking position under the action of the stronger button biasing means and against the action of the weaker lock biasing means acting on the locking member.

3 COMS ID No: SBMI-01682394 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:21 Date 2005-10-06 06/10/2005 22:19 06/0/0052219 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PG 61 PAGE 06/18 0 Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood o) that thc features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be o construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: s Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of components of a lockable chain winder according to an embodiment of the invention.

0 o Fig. 2 s a perspective view of the assembly of components of the lockable chain winder of Fig. 1.

o Fig. 3 is a detail of the latch and key operated lock in the latched position.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the locking member and of the latch and key operated lock in the unilatched position.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the locking member and locking button.

Fig, 6 is an exploded perspective view of components excluding the locking means but including the chain and chain drive means of the lockable chain winder according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of assembled components including the chain of the lockable chain winder according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

The lockable chain winder illustrated is suitable for opening and closing a window (not shown). The winder includes a housing 10 and a chain 11I which in use is fixed to the window sash and is movable out of and back into the housing 10. The movement of the chain is effected by the sprocket 15 within the housing 10 which meshes with the chain I11 to drive it out of and into the housing 10 upon rotation of the sprocket. As best seen in Figs. 6 and 7, a winding mechanism 20 is used to drive the sprocket, the winding mechanism including a driven gear 16 coaxially mounted with the sprocket 15 and a drive gear 18 cooperating with the driven gear 16 so that in use the 4 COMS ID No: SBMI-01682394 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:21 Date 2005-10-06 09/10/2008 15:34 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 04/08 00 0 drive gear 18 reversibly imparts rotary driving motion to the driven gear 16 and to the c, sprocket 15. The drive gear 18 is shown as having a worm gear 19 which meshes with 0 the driven gear 16 to drive the same, and a gear wheel 21 which is driven by gear 23 o having the winder handle 24 operated by a user. A chain guide 25 locates and guides the chain 11 as it is moved by the rotation of the drive sprocket 15. A bottom plate 12 closes 0" the housing 10 after the components are assembled within the housing.

0 O A locking means 30 is selectively operable prevent operation of the winding V) m.echanism 20 to drive the sprocket 15 and associated chain 11 in at least one of the two directions of movement thereof. The locking means 30 includes a locking member 31 selectively movable between a locking position shown in Fig. 2 in which it engages with the driven gear 16 of the winding mechanism 20 so as to prevent rotation of the driven gear 16 in at least one of its two possible rotational directions and a retracted unlocked position in which it allows rotational movement of the driven gear 16 in both possible rotational directions. The locking member 31 comprises a locking element 32 which, in the locking position, is located between adjacent teeth 17 of the driven gear 16 to thereby interfere with rotational movement of the driven gear and associated sprocket 15 in at least one of the two possible directions of rotational movement.

The locking member 31 when in its locking position is operative to allow rotational movement of the driven gear 16 and associated sprocket 15 in the one rotational direction to allow movement of the chain 11 into the housing 10 (to close an associated window or the like) but not in the reverse direction. To achieve this, the locking member 32 including a pawl element 33 which in the locking position of the locking member 32 is located between adjacent teeth 17 of the driven gear 16 to prevent rotational movement of the driven gear 16 in the first rotational direction for movement of the chain 11 into the housing 10 (anti clockwise movement in the illustrated COMS ID No: ARCS-209061 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-10-08 06/10/2005 22:19 06/0/0052219 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PG 81 PAGE Oe/18 o embodiment). The pawl element 33 has a ramp surface 34 which upon rotational movement of the driven gear 16 ini the opposite direction to the first direction (i.e.

C) clockwise movemnent in the illustrated embodiment) causes the pawl element 33 to move o out of the space between the adacent teeth 17 of the driven gear 16 by retracting movement of the locking member 31 thereby enabling rotation of the driven gear 16 in oc te opposite direction.

0 o The locking member 31 is biased into its locking position by a lock biasing spring o 35. The locking means including a latch 40 which is operative to prevent withdrawal of 0 the locking member 31 from its locking position after it has been advanced from its unlocked position into engagement with the driven gear 1 6. The locking means further includes a key operated lock 45 operatively associated with the latch 40 so that when the lock 45 is operated by turning of the key 46, the latch 40 associated with the locking member 31 is released to enable retraction of the locking member 31 from its locking position to its unlocked position against the action of the lock biasing spring is The illustrated locking means 30 includes a locking button 50 which is user operable to initiate movement of the locking member 31 from its unlocked position to its locking position by being depressed by a user. The button 50 has a body with a ramp surface 51 which engages with a facing ramp surface 36 of the locking member 3 1.

Depression of the button 50 enables the locking member 31 to move under the action of the biasing force of the lock biasing spring 35 acting thereon into its locking position.

The latch 41 is shown as a latch arm 41 associated wit the button 50, and in particular with a slot 52 in the body of the button 50. The latch aim is biased by spring 43 so as to drop into the slot 52 when the button is depressed by the user, so as to thereby latch and hold the button 50 in its depressed position. The button 50 is biased away from its 6 COMS ID No: SBMI-01682394 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:21 Date 2005-10-06 06/10/2005 22:19 06/0/005221961-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PG 91 PAGE 09/18 o depressed position by a button biasing spring 54 having a stronger force than the force of the lock biasing spring 35 acting on the locking membeir 31.

o) As shown in Figs, 3 to 5, operation of the lock 45 by turning of the key 46 (Arrow

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o A) lift the latch arm 41 through movement of the lug 47 at the base of the lock barrel.

This lifts the tip of the latch arm 41 (Arrow B) out of the slot 52 in the button 50, thus oc releasing the latch and enabling the button 50 to return to its undepressed position 0 o (Arrow C) under the action of the button biasing spring 54. The return of the button simultaneously initiates retraction of the locking member 31 from its locking position 0 (Arrow D) under the action of the stronger button biasing spring 54 and against the action of the weaker lock biasing spring 35 acting on the locking member 3 1. This retracting movement of the locking member 31 is caused by the: ramp surface 51 on the body of the button 50 bearing against the cooperating ramp surface 36 of the locking member 3 1.

It will be seen from the preceding description and drawings that the preferred embodiment provides an effective lockable chain winder that can lock the chain by user depression of the button against winding the chain out of the housing to open the associated window while allowing winding of the chain in the direction) to close the window. The invention thus provides an effective alternative to prior known or proposed comparable apparatus.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the possible and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention as herein described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

7 COMS ID No: SBMI-01682394 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:21 Date 2005-10-06

Claims

1. A lockable chain winder suitable for opening and closing a window, the winder 0 o including: O a housing, 5 a chain movable out of and back into the housing, Cc€ 00 a sprocket located within the housing and engaging with, the chain to drive it out O of and into the housing upon rotation of the sprocket, Sa winding mechanism for driving the sprocket, the winding mechanism including C1 a driven gear coaxially mounted with the sprocket and a drive gear engaging with the So driven gear so that in use the drive gear reversibly imparts rotary driving motion to the driven gear and to the sprocket, locking means selectively operable prevent operation of the winding mechanism to drive the sprocket and associated chain in at least one of the two directions of movement thereof, the locking means including a locking member selectively movable between a locking position in which it engages with the driven gear of the winding mechanism so as to prevent rotation of the driven gear in at least one of its two possible rotational directions and an unlocked position in which it allows rotational movement of the driven gear in both possible rotational directions.

2. A winder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking member comprises a locking clement which, in the locking position, is located between adjacent teeth of the driven gear to thereby interfere with rotational movement of the driven gear and associated sprocket in at least one of the two possible directions of rotational movement.

3. A winder as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the locking member when in its locking position is operative to allow rotational movement of the driven gear and associated sprocket in one rotational direction but not in the reverse direction, the locking 8 COMS ID No: ARCS-209061 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-10-08 06/10/2005 22:19 O9/0/285 2:1 -3-99B337 PAENT ATORNEY SERVP.E111 PAGE 11/18 member including a pawl element which in the locking position of the locking member is located between adjacent teeth of the driven gear to prevent rotational movement of the Q) driven gear in a first rotational direction, the pawl element having a ramp surface which oN upon rotational movement of the driven gear in the opposite direction to the first direction causes the pawl element to move out of the space between the adjacent teeth of the driven gear thereby enabling rotation of the driven gear in the opp osite direction. 00

24. A winder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking member is biased into its locking position by a lock biasing means, the locking means o including a latch which is operative to prevent withdrawal of the locking member from its locking position after it has been advanced from its unlocked position into engagement with the driven gear, the locking means Ruther including a key operated lock operatively associated with the latch so that when the lock is operated by turning of the key, the latch associated with the locking member is released to enable retraction of the locking member from its locking position to its unlocked position against the action of the lock biasing means. S. A winder as claimed in claim 4 wherein the locking means includes a locking button which is user operable to initiate movement of the locking member from its unlocked position to its locking position by being depressed by a user, depression of the button enabling the locking member to move under the action of the biasing force of the lock biasing means acting thereon into its locking position, the button being biased away from its depressed position by a button biasing means having a stronger foref than the force of the lock biasing means acting on the locking member, the latch being operatively associated with the button so as to latch and hold the button in its depressed position, whereby operation of the lock by turning of the key to release the latch enables the button to return to its undepressed position under the action of' the button biasing means, return 9 COMS ID No: SBMI-01682394 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:21 Date 2005-10-06 06/10/2005 22:19 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 12/18 o of the button simultaneously initiating retraction of the locking member from its locking ci position under the action of the stronger button biasing means and against the action of C the weaker lock biasing means acting on the locking member. Dated this 6 h day of October 2005 00 0 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES VS) Attorneys for cASIA PACIFIC TRADING (AUST) PTY LTD COMS ID No: SBMI-01682394 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:21 Date 2005-10-06