GB2134968A

GB2134968A - Locking mechanism for a window or door

Info

Publication number: GB2134968A
Application number: GB8401913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Heinz Schmidt
Original assignee: Siegenia Frank KG
Current assignee: Siegenia Aubi KG
Priority date: 1983-02-08
Filing date: 1984-01-25
Publication date: 1984-08-22
Also published as: ES286498U; ES286498Y; GB8401913D0; GB2134968B; FR2540544B1; ATA40184A; DE3345174C2; DE3345174A1; AT388962B; CH662152A5; FR2540544A1

Abstract

A locking mechanism for use in a movable sash or door 2, which is movable relative to a frame 1, said mechanism including a control linkage 15 which is disposed within the sash or door, the linkage being associated with a pivotally mounted locking finger 35, the linkage being movable to move the locking finger between a position in which the locking finger protrudes beyond the sash or door to engage a recess 22 or the like in a fixed frame surrounding the sash or door to lock the door in position, and a retracted position, there being at least one cam 40 fixedly disposed on the sash or door to guide the locking finger to follow a desired path of movement when the control linkage is moved. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a movable window or door This invention relates to a window or a door and more particularly relates to a locking mechanism for use in movable sash or door forming part of a window or door assembly.

It has been proposed previously to provide locking mechanisms for use in a movable sash or in a movable door, particularly sashes or doors that are intended to be raised to a position in which the sash or door can be moved, and lowered into a sealed or closing position under their own weight. Such prior proposed locking mechanisms have often incorporated a movable handle associated with a linkage contained within the frame of the sash or door, the linkage actuating various locking elements which may protrude beyond the sash or door to engage a recess or the like in a fixed frame surrounding the sash or door.

According to the broadest aspect of this invention there is provided a locking mechanism for use in a movable sash or door, which is movable relative to a frame, said mechanism including a control linkage which is disposed within the sash or door, the linkage being associated with a pivotally mounted locking finger, the linkage being movable to move the locking finger between a position in which the locking finger protrudes beyond the sash or door to engage a recess or the like in a fixed frame surrounding the sash or door to lock the door in position, and a retracted position, therebeing at least one cam fixedly disposed on the sash or door to guide the locking finger to follow a desired path of movement when the control linkage is moved.

Preferably the control linkage comprises a guide rod which is guided for longitudinal movement within a carrier rail received in the frame of the sash or door, the carrier rail being of substantially "U" section having the base of the "U" adjacent the periphery of the door and the arms of the "U" inwardly directed, the linkage and the carrier rail defining apertures therein, the locking finger being pivotally suspended from a support on the back of the linkage and being movable to a position which extends through the said apertures, when the apertures are aligned, the said cam or cams being formed on a substantially frame-like moulding located in the aperture in the carrier rail.

Conveniently a projection on an outer transverse edge of the moulding engages the front face of the abse of the "U" of the carrier rail, while an arm on the back of the moulding extends to the rear through the said aperture in the actuating linkage and is secured by means of a cross pin which extends through the arms of the carrier rail.

Conveniently the outer longitudinal edges of the said moulding are formed with abutment surfaces which engage on the rear surface of the web of the carrier rail adjacent the aperture therein.

Advantageously at least some of the abutment surfaces are located near the said arm.

The moulding may be a diecasting or an injection moulding. Preferably at least one cam is provided with a wear-resistant surface.

Advantageously the locking mechanism is such that only during the final part of the movement of the linkage towards the locking position does the locking finger engage with an upward force on the recess in the fixed frame to move the sash or door frame downwardly. This serves to overcome any problems that may arise if the free end of the locking finger engages the recess in the fixed frame before raising mechanisms associated with one or more trolleys carrying the sash or door have been actuated to lower the sash or door from its raised position. In order to provide a mechanism having this desired characteristic it is preferred that a surface of the locking finger which, in operation of the device, contacts a stationary cam has a curved configuration, different zones of the curved surface of the locking finger engaging the said cam sequentially during actuation of the device.

Conveniently the curved surface is located on the underside of the finger and is constituted by two crests, one adjacent the free end of the pivoted locking finger, the crests being separated by a trough.

Advantageously the distance between said two crests is approximately half the distance between the crest at the free end of the locking finger and the axis about which the locking finger is pivoted.

In a preferred embodiment the said curved surface of the locking finger is associated with a cam having a relatively large radius of curvature and, when the actuating linkage has been moved to the locking position, is brought into engagement with the said cam.

Conveniently said crests are formed by convex arcuate portions of the surface having one radius of curvature, and the trough is formed by an arcuate portion of the surface having another radius of curvature which is approximately twice the radius of curvature of the said convex arcuate portions.

It is to be appreciated that in a preferred embodiment of the invention during the first part of the closing movement of the actuating linkage the free end zone of the locking finger associated with the recess in the fixed frame remains at a predetermined height despite the continuous movement of the locking finger away from the frame of the movable sash or door. Only after the free end of the locking finger has reached virtually to its maximum extended length is the free end compelled, during the remainder of the closing movement, to move vertically upwardly relatively to the movable sash or door, thus optimising the operative connection to the recess in the fixed frame.

It is to be appreciated that the crest adjacent the free end of the locking finger determines, in cooperation with the associated stationary guiding cam, the initial position of the locking finger at the start of the closing movement of the control linkage, and during the initial part of the extension of the finger from the frame of the movable sash or door, maintains the correct vertical position of the free end of the locking finger despite the vertical displacement downwardly of the pivot pin carrying the other end of the locking finger. During the second part of the movement of the control linkage, the locking finger is extended from the frame of the sash or door in a manner determined by the cooperation between the trough and the associated guiding cam. This insures maintenance of the correct position.Finally the impingement of the second crest on the fixed cam, during the final part of the closing movement, initiates the required alteration of the vertical position of the free end of the locking finger.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be understood, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a simplified diagrammatic view showing an accurating mechanism for a slidable and tiltable door, Figure 2 is an enlarged part cross-sectional view of that part of the actuating mechanism indicated by the circle II in Figure 1, showing the mechanism in a locking position, Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 showing the mechanism in the unlocked position, Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 showing the locking mechanism at an intermediate position.

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line V-V of Figure 2, Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing another embodiment of the invention, Figure 7 is a view, partly in section, showing the detail illustrated by the circle VII in Figure 6 showing the actuating mechanism in the locking position, Figure 8 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 showing the actuating mechanism in the unlocked position, Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figures 7 and 8 showing the actuating mechanism at an intermediate position, and Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line X-X of Figure 7.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings a door assembly comprises a fixed frame 1 and a door 2. The door assembly may be used as a door leading to a balcony or patio. The door is illustrated, in Figure 1, in a position in which it is closed relative to the fixed frame. The door may be moved from the closed position either by being slid horizontally towards the right as shown in Figure 1 or by being moved into a tilted position in which the door pivots about a horizontal pivot axis located adjacent the bottom of the door, and the top part of the door moves inwardly into the room in which the door is situated.

The illustrated door is supported by trolleys 3 which run along a rail 4 formed on the bottom horizontal part 1' of the frame 1. The door is also retained, by means of elongate stays 5. The stays are mounted on the door 2 and engage a guide rail 6 which is mounted on the underneath of a top horizontal part 1 " of the frame 1.

The door 2 is provided with an actuating mechanism 7 which is used when the door is moved from one position to another position. The mechanism 7 includes a drive rod transmission 8 provided with a control lever or handle 1 6. The drive rod transmission 8 is located adjacent a vertical edge of the door and a carrier rail 14 is fixedly mounted in the door adjacent that vertical edge. A vertical drive rod 15 is guided for longitudinal movement within the carrier rail 14 and is moved when the control lever 16 is moved between its two operative positions, namely a locked position and an unlocked position. At its upper end the drive rod 1 5 is connected to a drive element 15' which passes through a corner guide 9, and which is also connected to a horizontal drive rod 17 forming part of a horizintal transmission 10.Thus movement of the drive rod 15 causes a corresponding movement of the drive rod 17. The horizontal drive rod 17 is guided within a carrier rail 1 8 which is secured in position adjacent the upper edge of the door frame 2. The rail 18 also serves to mount and guide the stays 5. The stays 5 can be locked in position, unlocked and, if necessary, positively moved by way of the rod 1 7 when the rod is moved appropriately. This facilitates locking and unlocking the door and also facilitates positively moving the door to and from the tilted position.

The lower end of the drive rod 1 5 is connected to a drive element 15" which passes through a corner guide 1 and which is connected to a horizontal drive rod 12 that extends across the lower part of the door frame. Thus movement of the drive rod 1 5 causes a corresponding movement of the drive rod 17. The drive rod 12 serves to actuate raising mechanisms 13 which serve to raise and lower the door, as required, relatively to the trolleys 3.

The drive rod 1 5 serves to actuate locking elements 19', 19" and 20 which project or extend beyond the peripheral edge of the door 2 and which are dimensioned and located to cooperate with lock recesses 21, 21" and 22 formed in the fixed frame 1 of the door assembly. The arrangement is such that the locking elements are firmly engaged within the lock recesses when the drive rod 1 5 has been moved in response to movement of the operating handle 1 6 to the locking position. Also the locking elements are adapted to be moved to positions in which they can readily be withdrawn from the lock recesses when the rod 1 5 has been moved in response to movement of the handle 1 6 to the unlocking position.

The locking element 20, and the associated lock recess 22 have a particular construction and operation which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. However, it is to be understood that, if required, the other locking elements 19' 19" and the associated recesses 21' 21" can be designed to be substantially identical to the locking element 20 and the associated recess 22 provided that they are located adjacent a vertical peripheral edge of the door 2.

The embodiment of the actuating mechanism shown in Figure 1 has an additional locking mechanism 23 consisting of a locking element 24 mounted on the door that can be engaged with and disengaged from a lock recess 25 formed on the fixed frame 1. The locking element 24 is movable by a vertical drive rod 26 which is movable in response to actuation of a second control lever 27 which forms part of the drive rod transmission 8. When the locking element 24 is in the locking position the door can be moved only into a tilted or ventilating position, and the door cannot be slid along the rail 4.With the locking element 24 in an unlocking or release position the door 2 can be moved horizontally on the trolleys 3 along the rail 4 provided that the control handle 1 6 is manipulated appropriately to raise the door positively, at least by a few millimetres, relatively to the fixed frame as a result of actuation of the raising mechanisms 1 3 associated with the trolleys 3.

At this point it should be mentioned that the mechanism generally illustrated in Figure 1 is suitable for actuating doors which execute a liftand-slide movement and which execute a tilting movement, but can also be adapted for use in doors or the like which only execute a lift-andslide movement. In such a case the additional locking mechanism 23 constituted by the elements 24 to 27 as described above, the stays 5 and the associated horizontal drive rod in the upper part of the frame can be omitted.

Returning now to the locking element 20 and the associated recess 22, attention is now specifically drawn to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings which illustrate this part of the described door frame assembly in greater detail.

Referring initially to Figures 2 and 5 it is to be noted that the carrier rail 14 is of substantially channel cross section having a web 28 that is substantially flush with a vertical peripheral part of the door frame 2 and two parallel inwardly directed arms 29. Each arm 29 carries an inwardly directed shoulder 30 spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the web 28.

The vertical drive rod is guided for longitudinal movement between the web 28 and the shoulders 30.

A carrier element 31 is secured to the back of the vertical drive rod 1 5 and projects towards the rear through a gap 32 between the two shoulders 30. The carrier 31 is thus located within a chamber defined between the rearmost parts of the arms 29 of the channel section of the rail 13.

A locking finger is pivotally suspended from the carrier 31 by means of a pivot pin 34. The pivot pin 34 extends between two lugs 33 that are formed on the carrier 31 and also passes through a part of the locking finger 35 that is located between the two lugs. The locking finger 35 is of generaly arcuate form, and the pivot pin 34 is located at one end of the finger.

A slot 37 is provided in the drive rod 1 5 immediately below the point at which the carrier 31 is secured to the drive rod, the slot 37 being so dimensioned that when the locking finger 35 moves pivotally about the pivot pin 34, the locking finger 35 can move freely through the slot 37. An aperture 42 is formed in the plane of the web 28 of the carrier rail 14. The aperture is so located and dimensioned that, on actuation of the vertical drive rod 15 the locking finger 35 will project through the aperture 42, as will be described hereinafter in greater detail.

An integral moulding 43 is received within a cutout portion 44 of the web 28, the moulding 43 effectively defining the aperture 42. The moulding 43 is of frame-like construction. A projection 45 formed at the front of the moulding 43 at the top edge thereof effectively defines a lip that engages the front face of the web 28 of the rail 14 immediately adjacent the uppermost part of the cutout 44. Adjacent the lowermost part of the cutout 44 the moulding 43 is provided with an abutment 48 which engages the rear face of the web 28. Also, abutments 49 are provided which are located adjacent the outer longitudinal edges of the moulding extending over the height of the aperture 42 defined by the moulding which also engage on the rear face of the web 28 of the rail 1 4. Thus the moulding 43 is held very firmly in position relative to the rail 14.

The moulding 43 serves to define two cam faces 40,41.

The cam face 40 is formed on the upper part of a rearwardly extending arm 46 that extends rearwardly from the lowermost part of the moulding 43 beneath the aperture 42. The cam face 40 is an arcuate cam face extending from an uppermost point which is substantially beneath the axis of the pivot pin 34 to a lowermost point which is effectively the lowermost horizontal edge of the aperture 42 defined by the moulding 43.

This cam face may be reinforced by a wearresistant covering, such as a strip of special steel plate, which is rivetted fast to the arm 46 at a position 50 which is beyond the operative cam surface, as will be described. The cam 41 is formed, on the moulding 43, at a position adjacent the uppermost edge of the aperture 42.

As can be seen most clearly from Figures 2 to 4 the lock recess 22 is formed by an appropriately configured element that is screwed to a part of the frame 1 within an appropriate recess or cavity formed within the outer face of the frame 1. A downwardly and forwardly extending protrusion 51 is formed which, as will be described, is contacted by the locking finger 35.

When the locking finger 35 is in the locked position, as shown in Figure 2, the locking finger extends so that the free end 36 thereof is located within the locking recess 22 and an upwardly inclined surface on the tip of the locking finger 35 engages the undersurface of the forwardly and downwardly extending projection 51. A curved shoulder 38 formed on the locking finger 35 is firm engagement with the cam face 40. Also a linear upper surface formed on the locking finger 35 is in contact with the cam 41.

It will be appreciated with the locking finger 35 in this position the door 2 is prevented from moving either slidably towards the right as shown in Figure 2, or upwardly.

When the handle 16 is moved towards the releasing position the drive rod 1 5 moves upwardly, thus moving the locking finger towards the position illustrated in Figure 3.The necessary pivotal movement of the locking finger 35 is guided by means of the cam surface 40 and, more importantly, by means of the cam surface 41, at least during the initial stages of the necessary movement. It will thus be appreciated that as the guide rod 1 5 moves upwardly, the axis of the pivot pin 34 moves upwardly and the arcuate finger 35 effectively moves in an arcuate fashion through the apertures 42 and 37 to a retracted position in which the free end 36 of the locking finger 35 is no longer present within the locking recess 22. When the locking finger 35 is in this position the door may move to the right, or upwardly.It can be observed that as the drive rod 1 5 is moved from the position illustrated in Figure 2 to the position illustrated in Figure 3 the entire door is raised slightly by operation of the lifting mechanism 1 3 associated with the trolleys 3.

When the mechanism is moved to the locking position the guide rod 1 5 will move downwardly, and this initially will actuate the lifting mechanism 1 3 associated with each of the trolleys 1 3.

Initially a curved part 13' of a cam constituting each lifting mechanism will slide across a horizontal planar surface, thus serving to lower the trolleys until a linear part 13" of the cam becomes substantially horizontal, in contact with the planar surface. During this process the guide rod 1 5 will move downwardly relative to the rail 14, and also the entire door 2 will move downwardly relative to the fixed frame 1. As the guide rod 15 moves downwardly so the lower most part 38 of the arm 35 will initially contact the cam face 14. This contact will impart a slight rotary motion to the finger 35 about the pivot axis 34, and continuing downward movement of the guide rod 1 5 will serve to increase this pivoting movement as the end of the finger 35 follows the cam surface 40.This movement will continue until the apparatus is in the position illustrated in Figure 4 in which the main part of the arcuate finger 35 extends substantially horizontally through the aligned apertures 33 and 42, the upper surface 39 of the locking finger 35 being in engagement with the forwardly and downwardly extending projection 51 formed within the locking recess 22 and the curved lower surface 38 of the locking member 35 still resting on the cam face 40. Continued downward movement of the drive rod 1 5 and the door 2 causes the locking finger 35 to return to the position illustrated in Figure 2, the curved part of the undersurface 38 of the locking member being guided by the cam face 40.

It will be appreciated that if the door fails to reach its lowermost sealing position relative to the frame 1 as a result of its own weight when the cam mechanisms 13 are actuated, the door will effectively be forced into the lowered sealing position by continued operation of the handle 16 when the free end of the locking finger 35 has engaged the forwardly and downwardly extending protrusion 51, since the continued downward movement of the guide rod 1 5 will apply an upward pressure to the part of the finger 35 in engagement with the projection 51 which will in turn apply a downward pressure, through the contact between the surface 38 and the cam face 40, to the entire door frame 2.

It will be appreciated that a locking arrangement 20 as illustrated and described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 can be located at any desired position on the vertical side edge of the door frame.

Attention is now drawn to the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 10. It will be apparent that this embodiment is very similar to the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, and in Figures 6 to 10 the same reference numerals are utilised for the corresponding parts as shown in Figures 1 to 5 but with the addition of one hundred to each reference numeral. The parts that are the same in both embodiments will, for the sake of brevity, not be described in detail again. There are various minor design changes which do not warrant detailed description.However, it is to be noted that the abutment 1 51 formed on the recess 122 is located between two forked arms 152' and 152" thereof, the latter arms defining guiding surfaces 1 53', 1 53" which are inclined relatively to one another and which converge towards the rear of the plate 122. During the locking operation cooperation between the end 1 36 of the locking finger 135 and the appropriate guiding surfaces 1 53', 1 53" will ensure that the door 102 is in a vertical position aligned relatively to the fixed frame if the door is not in such a position when the locking operation is initiated.

It is to be noted that the undersurface 138 of the locking finger 135 has a curved form of special configuration. At the end of the undersurface adjacent the free end 136 the locking finger 1 35 there is a protruding crest 138' which is spaced from a second intermediate crest 138" located substantially adjacent the mid-point of the undersurface of the arcuate finger 135. The two crests are separated by an inwardly directed curved portion or trough 138".

It will be appreciated that at the beginning of the downward movement of the drive rod 11 5 at the commencement of a locking process the crest 138' will initially engage and slide along the cam 140, and subsequently the trough 138" will slide along the front or leading edge of the cam 140.

The design of the crest and trough is such that, even though the pivot pin is being moved downwardly, the cooperation of the crest 138' and the trough 138"' with the cam surface 140 initially produces only a horizontal displacement of the finger end 1 36. Subsequently the second crest 138"' will engage the cam 140, and this will impart an outwardly directed movement to the end 136 of the locking finger 135. The locking finger 1 35 will then engage the downwardly inclined abutment 151 and, on continued actuation of the operating handle 11 6, the door 102 will (as in connection with the previously described embodiment) be forceably driven downwardly into a sealing tight engagement with the frame 1.

As a rule only the underneath edge of the finger 1 35 needs to be provided with a special shape or configuration to engage with the cam 140 during the closing movement of the rod 115.

However, the upper edge 1 39 of the finger which co-operates with the cam 141 may also be provided with an appropriate configuration if specific control of the movement of the finger 135 is needed during the unlocking procedure.

Whilst one particular configuration of the undersurface of the arcuate locking finger 135 is shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 to 10 it is to be understood that appropriately modified configurations may be found desirable.

Whilst the invention has been described in connection with embodiments in which an elongate cam surface 1 40 is provided to cooperate with the locking finger, it is to be appreciated that in modified embodiments of the invention the cam surface may be constituted by a simple cross pin inserted into the moulding 143 to cooperate with an appropriate surface formed on the locking finger. Also it is to be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described with reference to embodiments incorporating doors the invention is equally applicable to movable windows or sashes.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for use in a movable sash or door, which is movable relative to a frame, said mechanism including a control linkage which is disposed within the sash or door, the linkage being associated with a pivotally mounted locking finger, the linkage being movable to move the locking finger between a position in which the locking finger protrudes beyond the sash or door to engage a recess or the like in a fixed frame surrounding the sash or door to lock the door in position, and a retracted position, therbeing at least one cam fixedly disposed on the sash or door to guide the locking finger to follow a desired path of movement when the control linkage is moved.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the control linkage comprises a guide rod which is guided for longitudinal movement within a carrier rail received in the frame of the sash or door, the carrier rail being of substantially "U" section having the base of the "U" adjacent the periphery of the door and the arms of the "U" inwardly directed, the linkage and the carrier rail defining apertures therein, the locking finger being pivotally suspended from a support on the back of the linkage and being movable to a position which extends through the said apertures, when the apertures are aligned, the said cam or cams being formed on a substantially frame-like moulding located in the aperture in the carrier rail.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a projection on an outer transverse edge of the moulding engages the front face of the base of the "U" of the carrier rail, while an arm on the back of the moulding extends to the rear through the said aperture in the actuating linkage and is secured by means of a cross pin which extends through the arms of the carrier rail.

4. A mechanism according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the outer longitudinal edges of the said moulding are formed with abutment surfaces which engage on the rear surface of the base of the "U" of the carrier rail adjacent the aperture therein.

5. A mechanism according to claims 3 and 4 wherein at least some of the abutment surfaces are located near the said arm.

6. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one cam is provided with a wear-resistant surface.

7. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a surface of the locking finger which, in operation of the device, contacts a stationary cam has a curved configuration, different zones of the curved surface of the locking finger engaging the said cam sequentially during actuation of the device.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7 wherein the curved surface is located on the underside of the finger and is constituted by two crests, one adajcent the free end of the pivoted locking finger, the crests being separated by a trough.

9. A mechanism according to claim 8 wherein the distance between said two crests is approximately half the distance between the crest at the free end of the locking finger and the axis about which the locking finger is pivoted.

10. A mechanism according to claim 7, 8 or 9 wherein the said curved surface of the locking finger is associated with a cam having a relatively large radius of curvature and, when the actuating linkage has been moved to the locking position, is brought into engagement with the said cam.

11. A mechanism according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein said crests are formed by convex arcuate portions of the surface having one radius of curvature, and the trough is formed by an arcuate portion of the surface having another radius of curvature which is approximately twice the radius of curvature of the said convex arcuate portions.

12. A locking mechanism for use in a movable sash or door substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A locking mechanism for use in a movable sash or door substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.