AU2008243070C1

AU2008243070C1 - A Lockable Chain Winder

Info

Publication number: AU2008243070C1
Application number: AU2008243070A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Constantinou
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-25
Filing date: 2008-11-03
Publication date: 2015-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-21
Also published as: AU2008100607A4; AU2005100534B4; AU2008243070A1; AU2008100607B4; AU2005100534A5; AU2008243070B2

Abstract

A lockable chain winder comprising an outer body [10], a chain _1:8] at least partially in the body, diive means [1.6] to drive the chafiw a winding handle [11] which is operated to extend or igtract the chin from the body, a key cylinder [361 for locking 5 the. chain winder, and a rotatable drive coimponenit [131, which has a thread whiidh engages with the drive means, attachment means [29] on the drive component to attach to the winding handle, and locking means i41' on the.diive coinponent to form pait of a chain Icli ng mech anisam.

Description

A LOCKABLE CHAIN WINDER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a lockable chain winder that is used to open and close windows.

BACKGROUND ART

Chain winders are used extensively to open and close windows. The winders are typically fastened to the lower sill of the window surround frame. The winders have a metal or plastic body that is generally elongate and which has an external winder handle. Inside the body is a linked chain. Rotation of the external handle causes the linked chain to move out of or into the body depending on the direction of rotation of the handle. The end of the linked chain is attached to the window. The window is typically hinged from the top of the window surround frame. Therefore, the chain winder can push the window open or pull it closed.

Lockable chain winders also exist. Typically, the outer body is provided with a key cylinder into which a key can be inserted and turned to lock the chain against movement. The key cylinder is indirectly associated with the chain via a lock plate, a locking wire or similar type of locking device. For instance, in one lockable chain winder manufactured by us, a locking member locks against the sprocket (the sprocket driving the linked chain in and out of the lock body). Another type of locking chain winder uses a locking plate that engages with the linked chain to lock the linked chain against movement.

Lockable chain winders have also been made which include a push button that is separate from the key cylinder and which functions to latch the locking member.

There are some disadvantages with existing chain winders. For instance, a lockable chain winder typically has a key cylinder and perhaps also a push button. As the key cylinder (and the push button) need to operate the locking member, and because the locking member must engage the linked chain, sprocket, or other component in the winder, it is practical to have the key cylinder (and the push button if present) and the winder, it'is practical to have the key cylinder (and the- push button if present) and the winding handle proximal to each other. However, if the key is inserted in the key cylinder, and left in place, winding of the handle can cause the key to he struck cither by the handle or by the·person’s hand. 'This can cause damage to the chain winder, the key, or can cut or bruise the-person’s hand. Therefore, it 'would be an advantage, if the chain winder could be designed to minimise the possibility of the handlc/pcrson's-hand striking a key that may be Icil in the key cylinder.

Another disadvantage with previous chain winders relate;! to assembly complexity, Because the winders have numerous components, assembly is complex and the possibility of automated assembly is reduced. Therefore, it would be an advantage if the number of components could be reduced and/or assembly could be improved particularly to favour automated assembly. For instance, il would be an advantage if components could be assembled without requiring fixing of retainer clips or other fiddly components that do not find success with automated assembly.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word ‘-comprise” and variations of that word., such- as “comprises” and ‘'comprising’', arc not. intended to exclude oilier additives, components, integers or stops. A reference herein to a patent document or other matte;· which is given as prior-art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was known or that, the information it contains was pari of the common general knowledge as at the.priority date of any of the claims. ft will be clearly understood that any reference herein to background products or material, prior publications or technical problems does not constitute an acknowledgement or admission that any background material, prior publication's), technical problena(s) or combination^) thereof formed part of the common general knowledge in the field or is otherwise admissible prior art. whether in Australia or any other country,

OBJECT OK'THE INVENTION

It is an objeel of the invention to provide a lockable chain vvindcr that may at least partially overcome some of the abovementioried disadvantages or provide a useful or commercial choice, hi one form, the invention resides in a lockable chain winder comprising an outer body, the outer body comprising a casing and a base plate, the chain winder further comprising a chain at least partially in the body, drive means to drive the chain, a winding handle which is operated to extend or retract die chain from the body, a key cylinder for locking the chain winder, a rotatable drive component, which has a thread which engages with the drive means, attachment means on the drive component to attach to the winding handle, and a chain locking mechanism supported by the easing which interacts with the key cylinder, the chain locking mechanism comprising a locking means on the drive component and a lock plate which is slideable between a looking position where tho lock plate engages with the locking means oti the drive component to prevent rotation of the drive component in at least one direction, and a free position where the drive component can rotate in both directions, wherein the winding handle and the key cylinder are spaced apart such that the winding handle can be rotated to extend or retract the chain from the body while a key is in the key cylinder.

In another form, Lite invention resides in si lockable chain winder that comprises an outer body, a winding handle extending ftorn the outer body and which ix rotated to extend or retract the chain, a key cylinder for locking the -chain winder, and a push button, the construction and arrangement being that the push button is closest to the winding handle:, and the key cylinder is adjacent the push button but is furthest bom the winding handle. U is considered that this novel arrangement of the handle, key cylinder and push button provides substantial advantages to the working of the invention by enabling the chain winder to function with little or no likelihood, of damage te the key, injury to the· person using the chain winder .and the like; tn another form the invention resides in a component for a lockable chain winder, the component comprising a unitary component, the component comprising a main body-portion which is provided with a thread and which is adapted to drive a sprocket, a spindle extending from one end of the main body portion and which is adapted to bo attached to a 'winding handle, and a ratchet which is adjacent the other end of the main body portion and which 1® adapted to form part of a chain locking mechanism.

Alternatively, the.handle may be provided with the spindle and the unitary component is provided with spindle engaging means.

It is considered that the novel unitary component contributes substantially to: the. working of the chain winder by providing three functions on the same components being providing the thread to drive the sprocket* providing the spindle to mate with the winding handle, and providing the ratchet to form part of the locking mechanism. Thus, the number of component parts can be reduced, assembly can be streamlined, and the component promotes the abi lity to automate assembly of the chain winder;

In another form, the invention resides in a method for assembly of a chain winder using top loading to reduce assembly time, the method comprising: S, Providing a casing which has an open bottom, Π, Inverting the casing, ΙΠ, Inserting a cylinder housing.' i nto 'the casing, JV. Inserting a unitary component into Ihe casing, the unitary component comprising a main body portion which is provided with- a thread and which is adapted to drive a sprocket, a spindle extending from one end of the main body portion and which is adapted to he attached to a winding handle, arid a ratchet which is adjacent the other end tef the main body portion and which is adapted to form pari of a chain-locking mechanism, V, Inserting a locking plate inti' the casing, VL Inserting a chain guide component into the casing, VII. Inserting a chain guide spring into the casing, VII. inserting a chain, a sprocket and an idler gear into the casing. II is found that assembly'is more efficient using a top loading-procedure and having the above components placed into the casing, it i;i found that this method substantially contributes to the working of the invention by enabling assembly to bo streamlined and promoting the ability for automated assembly.

In yet a further form, the invention resides broadly in a lockable chain winder comprising an outer body, a chain at least partially in the body, drive means to drive the chain, a winding handle which is operated to extend or retract the chain from the body, a key cylinder for locking the chain winder, a rotatable drive component, which has a thread which engages with the drive means, attachment means on the drive component to attach to the winding handle, and a locking means on the drive component which interacts with the key cylinder to lock the chain winder, wherein the winding handle and the key cylinder are spaced apart such that the winding handle can be rotated to extend or retract the chain from the body while a key is in the key cylinder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1. Illustrates a chain winder.

Figure 2. Illustrates a side section view of the chain winder of Figure 1.

Figure 3. Illustrates a top section view of the chain winder in the unlocked position.

Figure 4. Illustrates a top section view of the chain winder in the locked position.

Figure 5. Illustrates a bottom view of the chain winder with the base plate removed to show the internal components.

Figure 6. Illustrates an exploded view of the chain winder.

Figure 7. Illustrates a close-up view from one side of the drive components and the locking components of the chain winder.

Figure 8, illustrates a dose-up view from the other side of the drive components. and the locking components.

Figures 9-11. Illustrate a unit:ary component.

Figures ! 2-16. Illustrate the stepwise assembly of the chain winder,

BEST MODE

Referring to the figures, the chain winder-according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises iho-followmg components: 10. A casing typical ly form ed of metal, plastic or other suitable material, 11. A hand l e as sembl y, 12. A lock cylinder and push button subassembly, 1 '3. A unitary component ίύ I be form of a worm, 14, A lock plate, 15. An insert to house the chain guide and to lock the worm into a fixed.' position and which locates or restrict?; movement of the bieJdiig plate so. that it does nol disengage from the ratchet, and which is formed of plastic, 1 ή. A combined sprocket and pinion gear, 17. A chain guide and spring. 18. A chain. 19. A idler gear. 20. A base plate.

Referring to these parts in greater detail, easing 10 has a design that is relatively standard and typically comprises an elongate substantially rectangular lower body portion 22 and a raised upper body portion 23. The casing typically has a length of between 10-40 cm, a width of between 20-100 mm and ti height of between 20-50 mi. These sixes can of course vary to suit.

The handle assembly 11 extends fbora· the casing and particularly from the raised upper body portion 73 of the. casing. The upper body portion 25. is. provided with an aperture 24 (see figure ft) to accommodate the· handle. The handle assembly is of known design and as illustrated in figure ft comprises three-main components being a curved atm portion. 25* and a cylindrical knob 26 which is rotatably attached to arm

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lockable chain winder comprising an outer body, the outer body comprising a casing and a base plate, the chain winder further comprising a chain at least partially in the body, drive means to drive the chain, a winding handle which is operated to extend or retract the chain from the body, a key cylinder for locking the chain winder, a rotatable drive component, which has a thread which engages with the drive means, attachment means on the drive component to attach to the winding handle, and a chain locking mechanism supported by the casing which interacts with the key cylinder, the chain locking mechanism comprising a locking means on the drive component and a lock plate which is slideable between a locking position where the lock plate engages with the locking means on the drive component to prevent rotation of the drive component in at least one direction, and a free position where the drive component can rotate in both directions, wherein the winding handle and the key cylinder are spaced apart such that the winding handle can be rotated to extend or retract the chain from the body while a key is in the key cylinder.
2. The chain winder of claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises a sprocket which engages with the chain.
3. The chain winder of claim 2, wherein the drive means additionally comprises a pinion gear which engages with the thread on the rotatable drive component.
4. The chain winder of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thread on the drive component comprises a worm thread.
5. The chain winder of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the attachment means on the drive component is a spindle which engages with the winding handle.
6. The chain winder of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking means on the drive component is a ratchet.
7. The chain winder of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rotatable drive component is a unitary component.
8. The chain winder of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lock plate is moved to its locking position by operation of the key cylinder.
9. The chain winder of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lock plate is biased by a spring to the locking position.
10. The chain winder of any one of claims 1 to 7 comprising a pushbutton wherein the lock plate is moved to its locking position by operation of the pushbutton.
11. The chain winder of claim 10, wherein the pushbutton is located on the outer body between the winding handle and the key cylinder.
12. The chain winder of claim 10 or 11, comprising a subassembly containing two openings, the pushbutton being inserted into one of the openings and the key cylinder being inserted into the other opening.
13. A lockable chain winder comprising an outer body, a chain at least partially in the body, drive means to drive the chain, a winding handle which is operated to extend or retract the chain from the body, a key cylinder for locking the chain winder, a rotatable drive component, which has a thread which engages with the drive means, attachment means on the drive component to attach to the winding handle, and a locking means on the drive component which interacts with the key cylinder to lock the chain winder, wherein the winding handle and the key cylinder are spaced apart such that the winding handle can be rotated to extend or retract the chain from the body while a key is in the key cylinder.
14. The chain winder of claim 13 wherein the outer body comprises a casing and a base plate, the chain winder further comprising a chain locking mechanism supported by the casing, the chain locking mechanism comprising the locking means and a lock plate which is slidable between a locking position where the lock plate engages with the locking means and a free position where the lock plate does not engage with the locking means.
15. The chain winder of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the drive means comprises a sprocket which engages with the chain.
16. The chain winder of claim 15, wherein the drive means additionally comprises a pinion gear which engages with the thread on the rotatable drive component.
17. The chain winder of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the thread on the drive component comprises a worm thread.
18. The chain winder of any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the attachment means on the drive component is a spindle which engages with the winding handle.
19. The chain winder of any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the locking means comprises a ratchet.
20. The chain winder of any one of claims 13 to 19, comprising a chain locking mechanism comprising the locking means and a lock plate which is slideable between a locking position where the lock plate engages with the locking means to prevent rotation of the winding handle in at least one direction, and a free position where the winding handle can rotate in both directions.
21. The chain winder of claim 20, wherein the lock plate is moved to its locking position by operation of the key cylinder.
22. The chain winder of claim 20, wherein the lock plate is biased by a spring to the locking position.