AU2016204675A1

AU2016204675A1 - A latch assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2016204675A1
Application number: AU2016204675A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Brian Alchin
Original assignee: Azuma Design Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Azuma Design Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-15
Filing date: 2016-07-06
Publication date: 2017-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-06
Also published as: AU2021290420B2; AU2021290420A1; AU2024201680A1; AU2016204675B2

Abstract

A LATCH ASSEMBLY A latch assembly (10) intended to be used with a lock assembly (11). The latch assembly (10) and lock (11) are intended to be used with a pivotally mounted window, such as an awning window. When the awning window is moved in the closing direction, the latch assembly (10) operates to retain the awning window in the closed position. rn ri -l Yrb _ ('1

Description

1 2016204675 06 Μ 2016

A LATCH ASSEMBLY

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to latch assemblies, and more particularly to latch assemblies for pivotally mounted window panels.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Pivotally mounted window assemblies include a window frame to which there is pivotally attached a pivoted panel, typically a glass panel. The panel may pivot about a generally horizontal upper axis, or a generally vertical axis.

[0003] Pivotally mounted windows are also known as awning windows. Awning windows generally include a glass panel that is pivotally attached adjacent an upper frame member of the window frame and pivots about a generally horizontal axis.

[0004] Windows are generally increased in size, and this includes awning windows. This has created a number of problems, particularly with respect to high rise buildings, that the wind loads are considerable.

[0005] It is known for awning windows, particularly large awning windows, to oscillate between an open position and a closed position under heavy wind conditions. This includes the pivoted glass panel impacting against the window frame. This has the disadvantage that under repeated impact, the glass sheet can become dislodged from the supporting frame, with obvious safety problems, particularly in respect of high rise buildings.

OBJECT

[0006] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage. 11511385 1: hxa 2 2016204675 06 Μ 2016

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] There is disclosed herein a latch assembly to engage a striker that moves towards the latch assembly in a predetermined direction, the latch assembly including: a base to be fixed to a supporting structure; a latch tongue mounted on the base for movement relative to the base in a first direction transverse of said predetermined direction between a retracted position and an extended position, and in a second direction transverse of the predetermined direction and said first direction to provide for movement of the latch tongue between the extended position and retracted position; and wherein the latch tongue in the extended position engages the striker to prevent movement of the striker in a direction opposite said predetermined direction so as to retain the striker adjacent the latch assembly, with said latch tongue when in the retracted position, providing for movement of the striker in said opposite direction away from said latch assembly.

[0008] Preferably, the latch tongue is pivotally mounted for angular movement to provide for the movement in said first direction.

[0009] Preferably, the tongue is pivotally mounted on the base for angular movement about an axis transverse of said second direction.

[0010] Preferably, said tongue is mounted for linear movement in said second direction to provide for the movement in said second direction.

[0011] Preferably, said latch includes an actuator mounted on said base, with the tongue engaged with the actuator.

[0012] Preferably, the latch assembly includes a housing within which the tongue is pivotally mounted for movement in said first direction relative to the housing, and mounted for linear movement in said second direction relative to the housing.

[0013] Preferably, the latch tongue is pivotally mounted in the housing for angular movement about an axis transverse of said second direction. 11511385 1: hxa 3 2016204675 06 Μ 2016 [0014] Preferably, the latch assembly includes a pivot pin pivotally mounting the latch tongue in the housing, with the housing having at least one slot extending in said second direction within which the pin is mounted for movement along the slot to provide the movement in said second direction.

[0015] Preferably, the housing has a passage within the actuator is slidably mounted.

[0016] Preferably, the housing is attached to the base, with the housing being movable relative to the base in said second direction.

[0017] Preferably, the housing is slidably mounted on the base.

[0018] Preferably, the latch assembly includes a spring between the actuator and base urging the tongue to the extended position.

[0019] Preferably, the tongue includes a cam surface that is engaged by the actuator to pivot the tongue to the extended position.

[0020] Preferably, the tongue can engage the striker preventing movement of the tongue to the extended portion at which the tongue can retain the striker adjacent the latch assembly, with the tongue released to move to the portion at which it can retain the striker adjacent the latch assembly when the striker has moved away from the latch assembly.

[0021] Preferably, the latch assembly further includes a bar attached to the housing and to a lock assembly so that upon actuation of the lock assembly, the bar moves the housing in said second direction to move the latch tongue in the first and second position.

[0022] There is further disclosed herein, in combination, the above latch assembly and a lock assembly, the striker being a latch striker and the base being a latch base, with the lock assembly being adapted to engage a lock striker, the lock assembly including: a lock base to be fixed to the supporting structure; a lock member mounted on the lock base for movement relative to the lock base in said first direction in unison with the latch tongue.

[0023] Preferably, the lock base is attached to the latch base. 11511385 1: hxa 4 2016204675 06 Μ 2016 [0024] Preferably, the latch base is integrally formed with the lock base.

[0025] Preferably, the lock member is mounted on a lock bar for movement therewith, with the bar being attached to the housing.

[0026] Preferably, the housing and lock bar are integrally formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [0028] Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a latch assembly; [0029] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the latch assembly of Figure 1; [0030] Figure 3 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the latch assembly as shown in Figure 2 sectioned along the line 3-3; [0031] Figure 4 is a further schematic plan view of the latch assembly of Figure 1; [0032] Figure 5 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the latch assembly as shown in Figure 4 sectioned along the line 4-4; [0033] Figure 6 is a schematic side elevation of the latch assembly of Figure 1; [0034] Figure 7 is a schematic sectioned end elevation of the latch assembly of Figure 6 sectioned along the line 7-7; [0035] Figure 8 is a further schematic side elevation of the latch assembly of Figure 1; and [0036] Figure 9 is a schematic sectioned end elevation of the latch assembly as shown in Figure 8 sectioned along the line 9-9; 11511385 1: hxa 5 2016204675 06 Μ 2016 [0037] Figure 10 is a parts exploded isometric view of a modification of a latch assembly and lock assembly described with reference to Figures 1 to 9; [0038] Figure 11 is a schematic plan view of the lock and latch assembly of Figure 10; [0039] Figure 12 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the lock and latch assembly of Figure 11 sectioned along the liner 12-12; [0040] Figure 13 is a further schematic top plan view of the lock and latch assembly of Figure 10; and [0041] Figure 14 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the lock and latch assembly of Figure 13 sectioned along the line 14-14.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] In Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a latch assembly 10. In this embodiment the latch assembly 10 is intended to be used with a lock assembly 11. The latch assembly 10 and the lock assembly 11 are intended to be used with a pivotally mounted window, such as an awning window. More particularly, the latch assembly 10 and the lock assembly 11 are intended to be used in a “Euro Groove” window assembly.

[0043] The latch assembly 10 and the lock assembly 11 are particularly intended to be mounted in the groove of a sill member of a Euro Groove frame assembly.

[0044] The lock assembly 11 includes a base 12 that would be fixed in the groove of the window sill member. Slidably mounted on the base 12 is a bar to which there is fixed a lock pin (lock member) 14. The lock pin 14 is intended to engage a striker 15. The striker 15 includes a base 16 that is attached to the pivotally mounted window panel, and a striker portion 17. The striker portion 17 is fixed to the base 16.

[0045] In operation of the above described lock 11, the pin 14 is moved in the direction 18 between a position engaging the striker portion 17 to retain the window in a closed position, and a position at which the striker portion 17 is released so that the window panel can be moved. 11511385 1: hxa 6 2016204675 06 Μ 2016 [0046] Typically the bar 13 would extend to a pivotally mounted lock handle that operates the lock 11.

[0047] The latch assembly 10 is intended to engage a striker 19. The striker 19 would be attached to the pivotally mounted panel.

[0048] The latch assembly 10 includes a base 20 that would be fixed to the window sill. Like the base 12, the base 20 would be secured within the groove of the “Euro Groove” window sill. Slidably mounted on the base 20 is a housing 21 fixed to the bar 13 by a further bar 22.

[0049] As the housing 21 is attached to the pin 14 by the bars 13 and 22, the housing 21 moves in unison with the pin 14 and therefore is moved by operation of the abovementioned lock handle.

[0050] Mounted in the housing 21 is a latch tongue 23. In particular, the tongue 23 is pivotally attached to the housing 21 by means of a pivot pin 24. Accordingly, the latch tongue 23 is angularly movable about an axis 25 that is generally transverse to the direction 18.

[0051] The pin 24 is also slidably mounted in the housing 21 for movement in the direction 18 as a result of the pin 24 passing between aligned slots 26 in the side walls of the housing 21.

[0052] Located internally of the housing 21 is an actuator 28, which is slidable relative to the housing 21 in the direction 18. A spring 29 extends between the actuator 28 and the housing 21 to urge the actuator 28 in the direction 30 relative to the housing 21.

[0053] The actuator 28 has an end surface 31 that engages a cam surface 32 of the tongue 23.

[0054] The latch assembly 10 engages the latch striker 19 when the latch striker 19 moves relative to the latch assembly 10 in a predetermined direction 34, due to movement of the pivoted window panel. The latch striker 19 includes a base 35 fixed to the window panel, and a striker portion 36. The striker portion 36 has ramp surfaces 37 that engage the tongue 23 when the window panel, with the latch striker 33 attached thereto, moves in the direction 34 to engage the tongue 23. 11511385 1: hxa 7 2016204675 06 Μ 2016 [0055] In operation of the above described latch assembly 10, when the window is in the open position and moved in the direction 34, the latch striker 19 engages the tongue 23 causing it to pivot angularly about the axis 25 from an extended (engaging) position, to a retracted position enabling the striker portion 36 to pass the tongue 23. Once the surface 37 of the striker portion 36 passes the tongue 23, the tongue 23 pivots to the extended (retaining positions). The tongue 23 is urged to the retaining position by means of the actuator 28 and the spring 29.

[0056] However, when the window is to be opened and the abovementioned lock handle operated, the lock handle moves the bar 13 to move the pin 14 from engagement with the striker portion 17, with the bar 13 taking with it the bar 22. The bar 22 causes movement of the housing 21 so that the tongue 23 is moved in the direction 18. As best seen in Figure 5, the tongue 23 can abut an external end face 51 of the striker portion 36, so upon the abovementioned handle being operated to move the lock pin 14 from engagement with the striker 15, the lock tongue 23 engages the surface 51, so that the spring 29 is compressed, that is the tongue 23 is urged to move in the direction 18. Upon the window moving to the open position, the spring 29 moves the tongue 23 to the position shown in Figure 1, ready to engage the striker 19.

[0057] In respect of the above described striker portion 36, the striker portion 36 may include a hollow 40 into which the tongue 23 projects when the window is in the closed position and the lock assembly 11 is in the locked position. The tongue 23 engages a surface of the portion 36, when moved by the bar 22, to cause the tongue 23 to pivot to the retracted position.

[0058] Preferably, the housing 21 has a passage 39 within which the actuator is slidably mounted for guiding movement relative to the housing 21, and within which at least part of the spring 29 is located.

[0059] The axis 25 is transverse (preferably perpendicular) to the direction 18.

[0060] The slots 26 extend in the direction 18 and are also transverse relative to the axis 25.

[0061] The pin 24 provides for angular movement, relative to the base 12, and housing 21, of the latch tongue 23 as described above, with the angular movement 33 of the latch tongue 23 about the axis 25 being generally transverse of the direction 18 and generally transverse of the 11511385 1: hxa 8 2016204675 06 Μ 2016 direction 34. Movement of the latch tongue 23 in the direction 18 is relative to the base 12 and housing 21.

[0062] In the embodiment of Figure 14, the latch assembly 10 is more integrally formed with the lock assembly 11. In this embodiment the housing 21 is formed integral with the bar 13. The pin 14 is a rotatable member rotatably mounted on a pin 50 attached to the bar 13.

[0063] The housing 21 includes a pair of side wall and end walls 41 formed integral with the bar 13. The side walls 41 are provided with the slots 26, with a cap 43 fixed to the side walls 41 by threaded fasteners 44. The cap 43 has a slot 45 through which the latch tongue 23 can project.

[0064] The base 35 of the striker 19 is integrally formed with face 16 of the striker 15. The striker portion 17 includes a striker mounting flange 46 from which there projects a flange 47 that is engaged by the pin (lock member) 14. The mounting flange 46 is serrated, to cooperate with serrations on the base 16, so that the position of the striker portion 17 may be adjusted. The striker portion 17 is held in position by means of threaded fasteners 48.

[0065] In operation of the above described lock assembly 10, and latch assembly 11, when the pin (lock member) 14 is in the lock position engaged with the striker portion 17, maintaining the window in the closed position, the tongue 23 is positioned so as to not engage the striker 19 to retain the window closed. However, when the pin 14 is moved to a position of non-engagement with respect to the striker portion 17, the tongue 23 is moved to a position at which it can engage the surface 51 of the striker 19. As the striker portion 17 moves further in the direction 34, the tongue 23 is released to move in the direction 18 to move to a position ready to retain the window in the closed position. When the window is to be locked in a closed position, the pin 14 is again moved to engagement with the flange portion 17.

[0066] As best seen in Figure 14, when the window is to be moved to the open position, the pin 50 is moved from engagement with the striker 17. The tongue 23 abuts the external surface 51 so as to compress the spring 29. Upon the window being opened, the spring 29 moves the tongue 23 in the direction 18 so that it occupies a position ready to engage the striker 19 when the window begins to move to the close position. 11511385 1: hxa 9 2016204675 06 Μ 2016 [0067] The above described preferred embodiment has the advantage that should the pivoted window panel be moved in a closing direction, whether by an operator, or by wind, the latch assembly 10 is operated to retain the window panel in the closed position, until the tongue 23 is retracted by operation of the lock handle. As the panel has been moved to the open position, the lock pin 14 is not in a position to engage the striker 15. This allows the panel to move to the closed position by engagement with the tongue 23, and subsequent engagement of the tongue 23 with the striker 19 to retain the panel closed. 11511385_1:hxa

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A latch assembly to engage a striker that moves towards the latch assembly in a predetermined direction, the latch assembly including: a base to be fixed to a supporting structure; a latch tongue mounted on the base for movement relative to the base in a first direction transverse of said predetermined direction between a retracted position and an extended position, and in a second direction transverse of the predetermined direction and said first direction to provide for movement of the latch tongue between the extended position and retracted position; and wherein the latch tongue in the extended position engages the striker to prevent movement of the striker in a direction opposite said predetermined direction so as to retain the striker adjacent the latch assembly, with said latch tongue when in the retracted position, providing for movement of the striker in said opposite direction away from said latch assembly.
2. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch tongue is pivotally mounted for angular movement to provide for the movement in said first direction.
3. The latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the tongue is pivotally mounted on the base for angular movement about an axis transverse of said second direction.
4. The latch assembly of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said tongue is mounted for linear movement in said second direction to provide for the movement in said second direction.
5. The latch assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said latch includes an actuator mounted on said base, with the tongue engaged with the actuator.
6. The latch assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, further including a housing within which the tongue is pivotally mounted for movement in said first direction relative to the housing, and mounted for linear movement in said second direction relative to the housing.
7. The latch assembly of claim 6, wherein the latch tongue is pivotally mounted in the housing for angular movement about an axis transverse of said second direction.
8. The latch assembly of claim 7, further including a pivot pin pivotally mounting the latch tongue in the housing, with the housing having at least one slot extending in said second direction within which the pin is mounted for movement along the slot to provide the movement in said second direction.
9. The latch assembly of claim 8, wherein the housing has a passage within the actuator is slidably mounted.
10. The latch assembly of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the housing is attached to the base, with the housing being movable relative to the base in said second direction.
11. The latch assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing is slidably mounted on the base.
12. The latch assembly of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the latch assembly includes a spring between the actuator and base urging the tongue to the extended position.
13. The latch assembly of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the tongue includes a cam surface that is engaged by the actuator to pivot the tongue to the extended position.
14. The latch assembly of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the tongue can engage the striker preventing movement of the tongue to the extended portion at which the tongue can retain the striker adjacent the latch assembly, with the tongue released to move to the portion at which it can retain the striker adjacent the latch assembly when the striker has moved away from the latch assembly.
15. The latch assembly of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the latch assembly further includes a bar attached to the housing and to a lock assembly so that upon actuation of the lock assembly, the bar moves the housing in said second direction to move the latch tongue in the first and second position.
16. In combination, the latch assembly of any one of claims 1 to 15, and a lock assembly, the striker being a latch striker and the base being a latch base, with the lock assembly being adapted to engage a lock striker, the lock assembly including: a lock base to be fixed to the supporting structure; a lock member mounted on the lock base for movement relative to the lock base in said first direction in unison with the latch tongue.
17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the lock base is attached to the latch base.
18. The combination of claim 16 or 17, wherein the latch base is integrally formed with the lock base.
19. The combination of claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein the lock member is mounted on a lock bar for movement therewith, with the bar being attached to the housing.
20. The combination of claim 19, wherein the housing and lock bar are integrally formed.