GB2095742A - Window fasteners - Google Patents

Abstract

A window fastener comprises a catch part 11, for attachment to the window sash, capable of being moved between a fastened position and an unfastened position, and a retaining part 19, for attachment to a fixed frame member of the window, with which the catch part engages in the fastened position. The retaining part is provided with a striking surface 21 with which the catch part engages in order to latch the window in the closed position, and a slot 23 spaced from the striking surface in the direction in which the window opens and adapted to receive the catch part 11 in order to latch the window in a slightly open position for ventilation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Window fasteners This invention relates to window fasteners of the kind cdmprising a catch part, usually for attachment to the window sash, capable of being moved between a fastened position and an unfastened position, and a retaining part, usually for attachment to a fixed frame member of the window, with which the catch part engages in the fastened position.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a window fastener which is capable of latching the window both in the closed position and in a slightly open position in which the window may serve as a night vent, for example.

According to the invention there is provided a window fastener of the kind referred to above, wherein the retaining part is provided with a striking surface with which the catch part engages in order to latch the window in the closed position, and a recess spaced from the striking surface in the direction in which the window opens and adapted to receive the catch part therein in order to latch the window in a slightly open position.

The catch part is preferably provided with a handle and is pivotally mounted on a base part adapted to be attached to the window.

Furthermore the recess is preferably a slot extending substantially parallel to the striking surface. Thus, in order to place the window in the night vent position, it is simply necessary to open the window to that position with the catch part in the unfastened position, and to pivot the catch part by means of the handle to cause it to enter the slot from one end, thereby retaining the window in the night vent position.

The retaining part may comprise a block having holes extending therethrough to receive screws or rivets for attaching the retaining part to the window. These holes may extend substantially perpendicularly to the striking surface. In order to enable the holes to be concealed after insertion of the screws or rivets, the striking surface is advantageously provided on a striking plate which is separable from the block. The striking plate may be attached to the block by means of projections on the striking plate which engage in blind bores in the block.

The catch part may be held away from the window by means of a bridge portion of the base part, so that the catch part is spaced inwardly of the window by a sufficient distance to enable it to engage the striking surface when the window is closed.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fastener attached to a window in the night vent position, Figure 2 is an exploded view of the retaining part, and Figure 3 is an exploded view of an alternative form of retaining part.

Referring to Figure 1 , the window fastener 10 comprises a catch part 11 which is mounted on a base part 12 attached to an aluminium or plastics sash member 13 of a window 14 by means of screws 1 5 (as shown) or rivets. The catch part 11 and the cranked handle 1 6 are pivotally connected to a bridge portion 17 of the base part 12 by means of a pivot pin 18. The bridge portion 1 7 serves to space the catch part 11 from the sash member 13.

In addition the fastener comprises a retaining part 19 mounted on an aluminium or plastics frame member 20 by screws (not shown) and provided with a striking surface 21 behind which the catch part 11 engages in the conventional manner in order to latch the window in the closed position. The striking surface 21 incorporates ramp surfaces 22 at each end. The retaining part 1 9 is also provided with a slot 23 in its upper surface, substantially parallel to the striking surface 21, for receiving the catch member 11 in order to latch the window in a slightly open position, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 2, the retaining part 1 9 consists of a rectangular plastics block 24 provided with counterbored holes 25 for receiving the screws or rivets for attaching the retaining part to the window frame, and a detachable striking plate 26 on which the striking surface 21 is provided. After screwing or riveting of the block 24 to the frame, the striking plate 26 is fitted to the block 24 and conceals the holes 25. The striking plate 26 is attached to the block 24 by means of projections 27 on the plate 26 which are an interference fit in the larger diameter portions of the counterbored holes 25. The projections 27 may be moulded so as to be of a diameter corresponding to the larger diameter of the holes 25, as shown, or they may be in the form of smaller diameter projections fitted with appropriate bushes.The slot 23 is downwardly tapered to as to leave solid areas of the block, beneath the sides of the slot, through which the screw holes 25 pass. A groove 28 is provided in the top surface of the block 24 to provide clearance for the corner 29 (see Figure 1) of the cranked handle 1 6 as the catch part 11 of the fastener is swung into engagement with the slot 23.

It will be appreciated that the necessity of providing fixing screw holes 25 in the block imposes limitations on the size and shape of the slot 23. Figure 3 therefore shows an alternative arrangement in which the fixing screw holes 30 are provided in lugs 31 which project from the side edges of the block. This allows the slot 32 to be larger than in the Figure 2 arrangement. The striking plate 26 is, in this case, retained by the engagement of smaller projections 33 within blind bores 34 in the block 24. The bores 34 are of such a depth that they do not open into the slot 32.

The curved surface of the slot 32 may be shaped as to break through the bottom wall of the block 24, so that the slot is open at the bottom as well as the top.

Although not shown in the drawings, the handle is preferably lockable in the fastened position by means of a grub screw received in a screwthreaded hole extending through the handle.

The window may be locked either in the closed position or the night vent position by using an Allen key to rotate the grub screw until it projects from the handle into a recess in the base part 12.

Claims (9)

1. A window fastener comprising a catch part capable of being moved between a fastened position and an unfastened position, and a retaining part with which the catch part engages in the fastened position, wherein the retaining part is provided with a striking surface with which the catch part engages in order to latch the window in the closed position, and a recess spaced from the striking surface in the direction in which the window opens and adapted to receive the catch part therein in order to latch the window in a slightly open position.

2. A window fastener according to claim 1, wherein the catch part is provided with a handle and is pivotally mounted on a base part adapted to be attached to the window.

3. A window fastener according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recess is a slot extending substantially parallel to the striking surface.

4. A window fastener according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the retaining part comprises a block having holes extending therethrough to receive screws or rivets for attaching the retaining part of the window.

5. A window fastener according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the retaining part comprises a block having lugs projecting therefrom, the lugs being formed with holes to receive screws or rivets for attaching the retaining part to the window.

6. A window fastener according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the striking surface is provided on a striking plate which is separable from the block.

7. A window fastener according to claim 6, wherein the striking plate is attached to the block by means of projections on the striking plate which engage in blind bores in the block.

8. A window fastener according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the catch part is held away from the window by means of a bridge portion of the base part, so that, in use, the catch part is spaced inwardly of the window by a sufficient distance to enable it to engage the striking surface when the window is closed.

9. A window fastener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.