GB2167114A - Fastening device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fastening device comprising a handle pivoted on a base member 38 which is attached to a fixing plate 30 by sliding dovetail features (31,40). A concealed grub screw 41 retains the base on the plate and is hidden by the handle. Locking means may be provided which may engage in a recess in the head of the grub screw. An upstanding wall member 35 conceals the joint between the base member 38 and the fixing plate 30. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fastening device This invention relates to a fastening device comprising a handle pivoted on a base member. The pivoted handle may carry a lug which normally engages a fixed retainer or recess usually on a fixed frame member of a window or door. An example of such a fastening device is the window fastener described in our published UK patent 2064639B. An object of this invention is to provide a fastening device in which the handle and a base member are combined and so arranged that they may be very easily attached to and removed from a fixing plate.

In accordance with the present invention a fastening device comprises a handle pivoted on a base member, and a fixing plate, the fixing plate and the base member being so arranged that the base member can be slid onto the fixing plate and walls of the base member will engage the fixing plate so as to retain the base member against movement, there being an additional retaining feature for retaining the base member against movement relatively to the fixing plate, the engagement between the walls of the base member and the fixing plate being effected by parallel (non-tapered) inter-engaging features such as male and female dovetails.

The additional retaining feature is preferably a grub screw.

The fixing plate may have a raised wall portion along one edge which, in use, conceals the joint between the base member and the fixing plate.

The base member may be of generally U-shaped section with inwardly tapered edges on the arms of the U which engage correspondingly chamfered edges on the fixing plate.

The base member may be of elongated form and may have the inter-engaging features along its longitudinal edges.

Alternatively the inter-engaging features may be along the transverse edges.

Preferably the inter-engaging features comprise male dovetails on the fixing plate and corresponding female dovetails in the base member.

The means for retaining the base member on the fixing plate so as to prevent relative movement may be a simple grub screw which is preferably located below the handle in one position of the handle so as to be concealed. The grub screw may pass through the base member and simply engage the upper surface of the fixing plate.

Preferably the fixing plate is provided with holes for fixing screws and the whole of the fixing plate is concealed by the base member except for one end portion which may be shaped and coloured to match the shroud.

The handle may include a locking device which comprises a plunger or a ball and the end of the plunger or the ball may be arranged to enter a hollow bore in the grub screw so that when the handle is locked the grub screw is not only invisible but cannot be removed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a fastening device embodying the present invention incorporating a handle pivotally attached to a base member; Figure 2 is a plan of a fixing plate for use with the fastening device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation of a modified fastening device embodying the invention; Figure 4 is a section on the line A-A shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section on the line B-B shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a plan of a fixing plate for use with the fastening device of Figure 3; Figure 7 is an isometric exploded view of an alternative form of base member and fixing plate; Figure 8 is a side elevation partly in section of a complete, non-locking, fastening device incorporating the base member and fixing plate of Figure 7;; Figure 9 is a side elevation, partly in section of a similar fastening device incorporating a ball-type locking mechanism; Figure 70 is a side elevation, partly in section, of another similar fastening device embodying the type of locking mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4; Figure 1 7 is a side elevation partly in section of a fastening device embodying the present invention; Figure 12 is a plan of the same fastening device; and Figure 13 shows a key which can be used to lock the handle of the fastening device to the base.

In Figure 1 the fastening device, which is basically similar to the one shown in our patent 2064639B and therefore need not be fully described, comprises a handle 10 with a handle boss 11 pivoted by means of a pivot post 12 to a base member 13 which also acts as a shroud or cover for a fixing plate 9. The base member 13 is hollow and is of the general section shown in Figure 4 and it is arranged to cooperate with a fixing plate 9 shown in Figure 2 also having the section shown in Figure 4.

The fixing plate9 has apertures 14forscrewfixing and, as seen in Figures 4 and 5 the fixing plate 9 has chamfered lower edges 15 which are arranged to mate with inwardly inclined or tapered end portions 16 of the walls 17 of the base member 13.

One end of the base member 13 may be closed and the other open or both ends may be open and the fixing plate may be formed with matching end portions which are of the same material and/or colour as the base member 13.

In use the combined handle and base member is slid onto the fixing plate longitudinally and is a relatively free fit on the fixing plate so that it may easily be slid on the fixing plate. It is retained against lateral movement by the engagement of the portions 15 and 16 shown in Figure 5 and it is retained against longitudinal sliding movement by means of a grub screw 18 (see Figure 1) which may be screwed downwardly so that the grub screw engages the upper surface of the fixing plate 13.

The inter-engaging features 15, 16 have parallel non-tapered surfaces.

The boss 11 has incorporated in it a locking feature which comprises a plunger 19 slidable in a retainer 20 against pressure of a spring 21. The plunger 19 has a domed head 22 engageable by a rotatable cam 23. The cam may be rotated for instance by an Allen Key inserted in a transverse bore through the cam, When the cam is rotated into the position shown in Figure 1 the plunger 19 engages in a bore in the top ofthe grub screw so asto lock the handle 10 against pivotal movement and also to conceal he grub screw and prevent it being removed.

In Figure 3 is shown a similar fastening with a handle 24. The general construction is the same as in Figures 1 and 2, the fastener 24 being pivoted to a base member 25 and cooperating with a fixing plate 26. As before the base member 25 is slidable on the fixing plate using the same engaging features 15 and 16 to hold it in position. Again a grub screw is employed as a locking device. This is not shown in Figure 3 but may be the same as in Figure 1.

In Figures 3 and 4there is a different form of locking device which consists of a rotatable tongue member 27 which, in the position shown in Figure 3 engages the side of the base member 25 so as to prevent the handle being turned. The tongue 27 is provided on a shaft 28 rotatable in the boss 29. In this instance the tongue 27 may be moved manually or there may be provision for rotating it by means of an Allen Key or screw driver or other tool .

In Figure 7 an alternative form of fixing plate and base member is illustrated, the handle being omitted from the base member for clarity.

The base member 30 has dovetailed ends 31 and 32 and along one longitudinal edge is an upstanding wall member 33 with extensions 34 and 35 shaped to correspond to the ends 36 and 37 respectively of a dovetail base member 38. The base member has corresponding female dovetail portions 39 and 40 to the male dovetail portions 32 and 31 on the fixing plate 30.

A grub screw 41 is engaged in a threaded bore 42 in the base 38 so that when the base is assembled on the fixing plate the grub screw may be tightened so as to engage the fixing plate and hold the base against relative movement The fixing plate 31 has counter-sunkfixing screw holes 43. This particular embodiment is designed to enable the fixing plate to be screwed or pop riveted to the vent of a window in any position required by the user. The upstanding wall, or raised section 34 of the plate is positioned nea rest to the glass when the fixing plate is put in position.

The dovetail base 38 is slid into position on the fixing plate and then the grub screw is tightened to hold itthere.

This particular design of base and fixing plate has a number of advantages. Firstly the fixing screws or rivets are concealed. Secondly prior to installation the windows, even with the fixing plates on have lower packaging heights than in prior arrangements.

Thirdly there is less likely to have damage to the handles prior to installation if the fixing plate arrangement is used and the dovetail base supplied separately. Fourthly the handles can be interchanged by the customer or if the consumer requires locking or non-locking handles or other variations.

In Figure 8 a non-locking handle and fastening device 44 is pivotally mounted on the dovetail base 38.

The handle 44 is pivoted on the base in the same way as described with reference to Figure 1 and will not be described in detail.

The grub screw 41 is shown which, when the base 38 is slid onto the fixing plate 30 shown in Figure 7, will engage the fixing plate and hold the two parts against relative movement.

When the grub screw 41 is tightened down a small separation occurs between centre portions of the base and the fixing plate. The upstanding wall 34 conceals the separation line and completes the neat appearance of the assembly.

In Figure 9 a handle 45 is shown mounted on a base 38. The handle 45 incorporates a quasi-locking system. This consists of a ball 46 engageable by a rotatable cam 47. The cam is rotatable by a screw driver or other tool or by a special key so as to force the ball down into the area above the top of the grub screw 41, when the grub screw is in its locked position i.e. screwed right down.

The ball 46 by engagement with the area above the grub screw prevents the handle being turned and at the same time ensures that the grub screw cannot be tampered with or unscrewed when the handle is in its locked position.

In Figure 10 a handle 48 is shown which is pivotally attached to a dovetail base 38. Apartfrom the base being in the dovetail form shown in Figure 7 the details of this arrangement are the same as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 and will not be described in detail.

In Figure 11 is shown a handle 101 pivotally mounted on a base 102 which also acts as a shroud for a fixing plate 103. The handle is pivoted by means of a rivet 105 covered by a rivet cap 107.

The base 2 and fixing plate 103 have dovetailed portions 112 and 113 similarto the dovetailed portions of the embodiments of the invention described in patent application 8426836.

Locking of the handle relatively to the base is achieved by means of a plunger 110 on which is a rack form 114. The plunger 110 has a lower locking end 1 10Awhich may be engaged in an aperture in the fixing plate 103.

The movement of the plunger 110 is effected by means of a key 115 shown in Figure 13 which has a pinion form machined at 116. When the key is inserted into a transverse bore 117 the pinion form 116 meshes with the rack form 114so as to move the plunger up and down as seen in Figure 11.

By moving the plunger downwardly it can be engaged into the base to lockthe handle.

The plunger 110 is held in the handle by two bushes 11 which frictionally hold the plunger by means of a transition/interference fit.

When the plunger is in the locked position its top end is flush with the top surface of the handle and therefore it cannot be moved or turned except by use of the key. When the plunger is in its unlocked position it stands proud of the top of the handle by about 4mm.

The outer diameter of the pinion form on the plunger may be made greater than that of the plain end portions of the plunger which may run up and down in bushes so that the plunger cannot be moved completely out of the bore in which it lies.

Alternatively the plunger may be retained in place by spring devices on bushes which clip into grooves in the locking plunger.

In each of these Figures the inter-engaging dovetail surfaces are formed as parallel, non-tapered surfaces which avoids any possible sticking or wedging taking place and also easies manufacture compared with tapered retaining devices.

In each instance the grub screw used to lock the base member to the fixing plate is concealed by the handle when in its closed position. Where a locking feature is provided the handle, being locked in its closed position, prevents removal of the base membey from the locking plate because the grub screw is concealed.

Claims (1)

1. A fastening device comprising a handle pivoted on a base member, and a fixing plate, the fixing plate and the base member being so arranged that the base member can be slid onto the fixing plate and walls of the base member will engage the fixing plate so as to retain the base member against movement, there being an additional retaining feature for retaining the base member against movement relativelyto the fixing plate, the engagement between the walls of the base member and the fixing plate being effected by parallel (non-tapered) interengaging features.

2. Afastening device according to claim 1 and in which the fixing plate has an upstanding or raised wall member along one edge which, in use, conceals the joint between the base member and the fixing plate.

3. Afastening device according to claim 1 or claim 2 and in which the inter-engaging features comprise male and female dovetails.

4. A fastening device according to any preceding claim in which the base member is of generally U-shaped section with inwardly tapered edges on the arms of the U which engage correspondingly chamfered edges on the fixing plate.

5. A fastening device according to any preceding claim and in which the inter-engaging features are along the longitudinal edges of the base member and fixing plate.

6. Afastening device according to any of claims 1 to 5 and in which the inter-engaging features are along the transverse edges of the base member and fixing plate.

7. A fastening device according to any preceding claim and in which the inter-engaging features comprise male dovetails on the fixing plate and corresponding female dovetails in the base member.

8. A fastening device according to any preceding claim and in which the means for retaining the base member on the fixing plate so as to prevent relative movement is a simple grub screw which is located below the handle in one position of the handle so as to be concealed, the grub screw passing through the base member and simply engaing the upper surface of the fixing plate.

9. Afastening device according to any preceding claim and in which the fixing plate is provided with holes for fixing screws and the whole of the fixing plate is concealed by the base member except for one end portion which is shaped and/or coloured to match the base member.

10. A fastening device according to claim 8 may include a locking device which comprises a plunger or a ball, the end of the plunger or the ball being arranged to enter a hollow bore in the grub screw so that when the handle is locked the grub screw is not only invisible but cannot be removed.

11. A fastening device substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1 and 2 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: (c) Claims 3 to 11 above have been re-numbered as 2 to 10 and their appendancies corrected.

1. A fastening device comprising a handle pivoted on a base member, and a fixing plate, the fixing plate and the base member being so arranged that the base member can be slid onto the fixing plate and walls of the base member will engage the fixing plate so as to retain the base member against movement, there being an additional retaining feature for retaining the base member against movement relatively to the fixing plate, the engagement between the walls of the base member and the fixing plate being effected by parallel (non-tapered) interengaging features and in which the fixing plate has an upstanding or raised wall member along one edge which, in use, conceals the joint between the base member and the fixing plate.