GB2201188A - Locking fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking fastener comprises a mounting plate (28) for mounting to a door, having a rearwardly-facing recess (34) within which is received an intermediate member (48). Between the intermediate member and the mounting plate is located a generally wedge-shaped locking member (64), which can be moved between locking and unlocking positions by means of a hexagonal-section key (not shown) via an aperture (36) in the front of the mounting plate (28). In its locking position, the locking member abuts a formation (20) of a spindle (14) passing centrally through the mounting plate and intermediate member. In its unlocking position, the locking member moves clear of the formation (20) so allowing the spindle to be rotated. The spindle may be part of an actuating handle for opening and closing a window or door to which the fastener is secured. <IMAGE>

Description

LOCKING FASTENER This invention relates to locking fasteners, for example of the type used for locating and securing a window, or door, in a closed or partially closed position within a frame.

The particular type of fastener of interest comprises a baseplate (usually affixed to a door, or to the casement or sash of a window) and a handle pivotally mounted with respect to the plate for movement between an open and a closed position. Window fasteners of this type, whether for casement or sash windows, will usually be provided with a formation (or nose) on the handle which will, in the closed position, engage the window frame or adjacent sash to prevent movement of the casement with respect to the frame, or of adjacent sashes with respect to one another, and in the open position will be retracted from contact with the frame or adjacent sash so that the window may be opened. Door fasteners of this type will usually be provided with means to operate an internal latch/bolt arrangement.In both cases the fastener may be affixed by its baseplate to the door or window frame, but this 'reverse' arrangement is less commonly used. A further arrangement, known as an Espagnolette, is particularly used as a French door fastening but it is also becoming more common as a window fastening. It comprises'a handle, generally positioned half way along the opening edge of the door or window, which is arranged simultaneously to operate fastenings at either end of the opening edge, by means of two elongate actuating members which pass along the edge between the handle and the respective fasteners. With such an arrangement, of course, the handle generally does not include a nose since there is no direct fastening between the door or window and its frame in the region of the handle.However, much of the mounting arrangement of the handle., and any locking arrangements that may be provided, may to a large extent be very similar to the standard types of fastener mentioned above. Accordingly, the invention extends to this type of arrangement (or to any other type of arrangement in which the actual fastener is distant from the handle) as well as to the conventional type.

The invention is particularly relevant to window fasteners, but the equivalence of function to door fateners and handles etc. will be appreciated. Any references to window handles and catches may therefore be taken likewise as references to door handles etc.

having equivalent features, and vice versa, unless the context is to the contrary.

Usually, window fasteners operate simply on a pivotal basis and have no means to restrain movement of the handle with respect to the plate. With these it is possible merely by breaking the window for a would-be intruder to move the handle about its pivot relative to the mounting plate and thereby release the window to gain access to the building. In order to prevent, or at least reduce the risk of this, a number of arrangements have been proposed to enable the user, for example a householder, to lock the handle with respect to the mounting plate by some form of mechanical engagement. In high security applications a security lock requiring use of a key or perhaps a release combination may be used to enable some sort of mechanical engagement of a formation either on the handle or the plate to engage and disengage from a complementary formation on the plate or handle.Where a lower degree of security is required, simpler arrangements have been used, for example having a hidden grub screw, usually located in the handle, which can be screwed by the user into and out of engagement with a recess on the plate with a simple hexagonalsection key. Such lower security arrangements are particularly appropriate for use in locations such as high rise residential blocks, where it is not intruders which are of concern but the possibility of children being able to open windows and thereby come to harm.

Similar considerations apply to prior art door handles. For some internal uses, the security of a conventional tumbler lock and key arrangement may be superfluous and provision for lower security locking acceptable.

It is with the lower security type of arrangement that the present invention is particularly concerned.

The grub screw arrangement described above suffers a number of disadvantages, particularly cost, since accurate machining and threading is required: high performance materials are needed for the threaded parts of the fastener. Also, the necessary displacement of the screw axis from the pivot axis of the handle can, with repeated use of the screw arrangement, lead to damage to the handle, for example by lever forces. It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce a satisfactory locking fastener towards the lower end of the security range which avoids or at least mitigates the disadvantages of the known systems at an acceptable commercial cost.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a locking fastener comprises a mounting or base plate and a handle mounted with respect to the plate for pivotal movement between an open and a closed position, the mounting plate having a recess therein, an intermediate member within the recess, and a locking member held captive between the mounting plate and the intermediate member and arranged for rotation between a first position in which it abuts the formation on the handle, so locking the handle in the closed position, and a second position in which it clears the formation, so allowing movement of the handle to the open position. Desirably, the formation on the handle is integral with the spindle of the handle which, itself, is integral with the grip. However, this is not essential and arrangements are envisaged in which the formation and/or the spindle are not integral.

Desirably, the mounting plate forms an exterior housing, with the recess opening towards the rear. The intermediate member may then fit within this recess, the recess and/or the intermediate member being suitably shaped to form a cavity between them within which is contained the locking member. In a particularly advantageous arrangement, co-operating recesses are provided both on the intermediate member and on the mounting, the locking member simply being held between these co-operating recesses. If the recesses are suitably shaped, the locking member may be of one piece form and may be held in position, both rotationally and against movement along the axis of rotation, without there being any need for a separate fixture (for example a separate spindle and bolt) as the rotational mounting.One way in which this can be achieved is for at least part of the locking member to be generally cylindrical in shape, this cylindrical portion being received within a bore (for example a blind bore) in either the intermediate member or the mounting plate.

The locking member may be of various shapes, the only essential feature being an eccentric formation, with respect to its rotational axis, which is arranged to abut or to clear the formation on the handle. In one version of the device, the locking member is generally wedge or sector shaped, and has a generally cylindrical spigot at one side thereof which is arranged to be received within a corresponding cylindrical bore in the mounting plate and/or the intermediate member. Desirably, -the co-operating recesses of the mounting plate and intermediate member are so arranged that the locking member is held in a direction parallel to its axis of rotation between the two parts, with the spigot in a blind bore and the wedge shaped portion within a larger wedge shaped recess in the other of the housing or the intermediate member. This wedge shaped recess may allow rotation of the wedge shaped locking member through, for example, substantially 900, with the member in one position abutting one side of the recess and locking the handle, and in the other position abutting the other side of the recess and allowing the handle to move to the open position. Biasing means may be provided either on the locking member or in one of the co-operating recesses, to bias the member either against the mounting plate or against the intermediate member, so ensuring sufficient tightness in operation for the locking member to remain in the rotational position in which it is placed. This biasing means may be a spring, for example a spring washer, or it may be any other type of resilient material, such as neoprene or rubber.In one specific arrangement, a spigot of the locking member extends into a blind bore either in the baseplate or in the intermediate member, and abuts a resilient pad at the base of the bore. Alternatively, a flat spring could be provided here, which would have the advantage that the locking member could be provided with a "click stop" in either its locking or its unlocking position or both. Of course, other methods could be used to provide such "click stops". The locking member may be of any suitable material, for example a metal alloy or a plastics material.

In a further advantageous arrangement, the spindle of the handle, and the formation thereon, extend through an aperture in the front face of the baseplate which is so shaped as to provide a stop both at or adjacent the open position of the handle and at the closed position. Desirably, this aperture comprises a first edge portion of a first diameter, a second edge portion of a second diameter, and two joining edge portions connecting the first and second edge portions.

If the handle spindle then has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the first diameter, and has a formation thereon of a diameter slightly smaller than the second diameter, the spindle and formation can be received within the aperture, with the formation moving within the annular space between the second edge portion and the spindle. In this position, the respective stops are provided by abutment between the respective ends of the formation and the respective joining edge portions. If this arrangement is used with a wedge shaped locking member, it is desirable for at least one of the joining edge portions to be angled with respect to a plane containing the pivot axis, to ensure sufficient clearance for the wedge as it moves between its locking and its unlocking positions.

Thus, with such an arrangement, the formation of the spindle acts not only to restrict rotation of the handle between its open and closed positions, but also acts as an abutment for the locking member. When this dual role is combined with a locking member which is a arranged to rotate through an angle of about 900 between its locking and unlocking positions, a very compact unit may result. It will be appreciated, of course, that if the device can be arranged so that the locking member needs to rotate through only 900 between its two positions, the fastener can be considerably more compact than many known fasteners.

It is desirable for the locking member to be accessible via an aperture in the mounting plate (and, if necessary, also in the handle). Locking and unlocking may then be carried out by a key which is inserted through the aperture, and into a suitably shaped bore within the locking member. For security purposes, it is desirable that the key is removable, but this is not essential and it is within the scope of the invention for a fixed e.g. child-proof key or other operating member to be permanently attached to the locking member. Improved security can be provided by the use of a small hexagonal bore, and a co-operating hexagonal section key.This results in a fastener which is difficult to undo unless one has the appropriate key, and which is also difficult to undo from the outside, for example if an intruder smashes a window and tries to open the fastener from behind. Of course, bores of other section, or other means of attaching a key or operating member, could be employed.

In a further desirable arrangement, the intermediate member is provided with a rearwardlyfacing generally cylindrical recess, within which is received a plug member which is keyed to the handle spindle or pivot. Rotation of the handle then turns the plug within the cylindrical cavity. With such an arrangement, it is possible to secure the whole fastener together with the use of a single screw, for example passing axially through the plug and into the spindle of the handle. Abutment means may be provided between the spindle and the plug to prevent overtightening of the screw. With such an arrangement the stiffness of the handle can be arranged to be dependent upon some secondary biasing means, for example a spring washer fitting between the plug and the intermediate member.

Alternatively, the plug member and screw could be omitted and replaced with an elongate shaft, extending through the base plate and keyed to the handle. This is particularly useful in an Espagnolette - type of fitting. The arrangement may be held together by a circlip, replacing the sprung washer of the previous arrangement, which fits behind an abutment (for example within a groove) in the handle spindle.

According to a second aspect of the invention a fastener for a door or window comprises a mounting plate and a handle pivotally mounted with respect to the plate for movement between an open and a closed position, the mounting plate having a recess therein and an intermediate member within the recess, the intermediate member having a cylindrical recess therein within which is located a plug, or a shaft, which is keyed to rotate with the handle. This arrangement may be used either with or without the locking fastener described above.

It would of course be equally valid to consider the intermediate member and/or the plug as being part of the mounting or base plate itself. With such a viewpoint, the mounting plate is considered to be made up of several separate parts, the locking member desirably being held captive between co-operating recesses on two of these parts. Although it is the outer (housing) member to which the affixing screws are attached in the specific embodiment, it is also envisaged that the attaching screws or any other suitable fastening means could be affixed to any of the parts of the mounting plate. It is not essential for the intermediate member to be contained within a recess of the mounting plate: it would be equally useful for the intermediate member merely to abut the mounting plate.

The handle may be provided with an integral nose portion, or with a separate nose portion. In the latter case, the nose portion could be of a different material from the rest of the handle, for example of a plastics material. Alternatively or in addition, a plastics material spacer plate may be located between the front surface of the baseplate and the corresponding abutting portion of the handle, to provide a good "feel", and of course, to prevent. the two metal surfaces of the nose portion and the front of the mounting plate from rubbing against each other.

Alternatively, the nose portion may be omitted entirely.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of assembling a fastener comprises positioning an intermediate member within a rearwardly-facing aperture in a mounting plate, with a locking member held captive between the mounting plate and the intermediate portion, inserting a spindle of a handle through co-operating apertures in the front of the mounting plate and the front of the intermediate portion, placing a plug member within the rearwardlyfacing recess of the intermediate portion so as to key the plug member to the spindle, and securing the plug member to the spindle. Alternatively, the plug member could be keyed to the spindle, and then attached as a separate step, for example by inserting a screw through the plug member and into a threaded bore in the spindle.In a variation of the method, biasing means, for example, a sprung washer could be inserted into the aperture in the intermediate member prior to the insertion of the plug member.

It is within the scope of the present invention for any of the alternatives as described above to be combined, in any compatible combination whatsoever, and with any of the individual features of the specific description or the drawings, again in any compatible combination whatsoever.

The invention may be carried into practice in a number of ways and one specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a medial longitudinal section through the baseplate and fastener of an embodiment of the invention, with the handle removed; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the baseplate and fastener of Figure 1 looking in the direction of arrow A; FIGURE 3 is a rear view of a locking handle; FIGURE 4 is a side view of the locking handle of Figure 3 looking in the direction of arrow B; FIGURE 5 is a plan view, looking in the direction of arrow C of Figure 6, of a wedge shaped locking member; FIGURE 6 is a medial longitudinal section of the wedge shaped locking member of Figure 5, taken along the plane VI; FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a spacer plate illustrated in Figures 3 and 4; and FIGURE 8 is a view of the baseplate, handle pivot, and locking member, from below.

The expressions "above" and "below" are used throughout solely in an illustrative sense, and relate to the orientation of the device as shown on the page at Figure 1. Of course, when the fastener is in use, it may be arranged to operate in any orientation whatsoever, depending upon the orientation of the window or door to which it is attached.

Turning first to Figures 3 and 4 there is shown a window or door locking handle, having an elongate grip 12 and an integral elongate spindle portion 14 whose axis is perpendicular to, but spaced from, the axis of the grip 12. The purpose of this is to make the handle easier to grip in use, and to ensure that the grip 12 is suitably spaced away from the door or window frame.

The spindle portion is internally formed with a square section blind bore 16 which terminates in a smallerdiameter screw threaded bore 18. These are for mounting purposes. The spindle portion 14 is generally of cylindrical external diameter, but it is provided with an integral formation or fixed element 20, whose purpose will be described later.

Extending perpendicularly to both the grip 12 and the spindle portion 14 is a nose, snib or catch piece 22. This is not integral with the grip 12, but is a separate planar member having a shaped aperture therein which is arranged to fit over the spindle portion 14 and the formation 20. To hold the nose in position, and to provide a suitably resilient sliding surface when the handle is rotated about the spindle portion 14, there is provided a flat spacer 24, best shown in Figure 7. The spacer has an aperture 26, of the same shape as the aperture in the nose 22, so that it fits over the spindle 14 and the formation 20, abutting the nose. The nose, in plan view, is the same size and shape as the spacer except for the forwardly-extending portion which can be seen emerging from behind the spacer in figure 1.With this arrangement, the nose may be replaced with one of a different material (a nose of a plastics material, rather than a metal alloy, giving a softer "feel" to the action of the handle).

Alternatively, both the nose and the grip may be of a metal alloy. Finally, if the handle is to be used with an Espagnolette fastening arrangement, the nose can be omitted altogether, simply being replaced by a thicker spacer 24, if necessary.

The mounting and locking arrangement for the handle will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 2 is a plan view of the mounting arrangement as it would be seen from above, without the handle in position. Figure 1 is a medial longitudinal section through Figure 2.

The mounting shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an external baseplate, mounting plate or housing 28, of generally rectangular shape in plan' view, and having through-bores 30, 32 through which screws are inserted to fasten the baseplate to a door or -window frame. The housing 28 has a downwardly facing generally rectangular recess 34. The recess opens into the upper surface of the baseplate through two apertures 36, 38.

The first of these is circular in shape, but the second is of a rather more complex shape, and comprises a first circular segmental portion 40, and a largerdiameter second segmental portion 42. These two circular edges are joined, near opposite edges of the baseplate, respectively by a radial edge 44 and an angled edge 46.

Fitting within the recess 34 is a generally rectangular intermediate member 48. Because of the shape of the aperture 38 in the baseplate 28, part of the upper surface of the intermediate member can be seen from above, through the aperture in Figure 2. The intermediate member is provided with an internal downwardly facing recess 50, generally circular in cross section, which opens through the upper surface of the member through a smaller-diameter circular aperture 52.

Positioned within the circular recess 50 and extending upwards through the aperture 52, is a generally top hat shaped plug member 54. The base portion 58 of the plug member is circular in cross section, but the upper portion 56 has a square external section, as may be seen from Figure 2. A circular through bore 60 passes centrally of the plug. Between the plug and the upper surface of the recess 50 of the intermediate member 48 there is provided an annular spring washer 62.

In use, the handle 10 is positioned with its square section blind bore 16 received over the square section upper portion 56 of the plug member 54. Thus, the plug member is keyed to rotate with the handle.

The spindle portion 14 is of a size to fit loosely within the smaller-diameter segmental portion 40 of the aperture 38, with the formation 20 being located within the larger-diameter portion 42. In this position, the handle is free to rotate through an arc of about 900, being stopped at one extremity by one end of the formation 20 abutting the radial edge 44, and at the other extremity by the other end of the formation abutting the angled edge 46.

The entire arrangement is held together by a single screw (not shown) inserted from below into the central bore 60. This passes into the interior of the spindle 14, and is tightened against the screw threaded bore 18. To prevent overtightening of the screw making the handle difficult to turn, the length of the upper portion 56 of the plug member and the corresponding depth of the square-section bore 16 in the pivot are arranged so that, at a suitable point, the upper end of the upper portion hits the end of the bore. When this happens, the handle and the plug 54 can be drawn no closer together, and the tightness of the handle is dependent simply upon the spring washer 62.

The handle may be locked at one of its two extremities, and the mechanism by which this is achieved will now be described. As can be seen in Figure 1, located between the upper surface of the intermediate member 48 and the top of the recess in the baseplate 28 is a wedge shaped locking member 64. - As can be seen from Figures 5 and 6, this comprises a generally planar wedge shaped locking portion 66, and an integrally formed cylindrical eccentric spigot 68.

In the upper surface of the locking portion 66, aligned with the spigot 68, is a blind hexagonal bore 70.

Turning back to Figure 1, i.t will be seen that the spigot 68 fits in use into a corresponding circular blind bore 72 in the upper surface of the intermediate member 48. At the bottom of this bore is positioned a rubber pad 74, to provide some cushioning effect.

Figure 8 shows in more detail the shape of the upper surface of the recess 34 in the baseplate 28.

This diagram shows the arrangement of the fastening from below, with the handle and the locking member in position within the baseplate, but with the intermediate portion 48, the washer 62 and the plug member 54 omitted. As can be seen, apart from the shaped aperture 38 (which is mostly filled with the spindle 14 and the formation 20 of the handle, but also through which may be seen the plastics spacer 24), the upper surface of the recess 34 includes a further wedge shaped recess 76 within which is positioned the locking member 64 for rotation about its spigot 68. The recess 76 extends through about half the depth of the upper surface of the recess 34.

The locking operation of the device should now be evident. In the position shown in Figure 8, the handle is locked in the closed position, with the formation 20 abutting the locking portion 66, so preventing rotation of the spindle. To unlock the handle, a hexagonalsection key is inserted through the aperture 36 at the top of the baseplate (see Figure 2) and into the corresponding hexagonal bore 70. The locking member may then be rotated by approximately 900 into the recess 76, thus removing it from the path of the formation 20. The handle is then free to move to its unlocked position, thus enabling the door or window to be opened.

The purpose of the rubber pad 74, shown in Figure 1, is to ensure that the locking member is always pressed against the upper surface of the recess 76, thus ensuring sufficient friction to hold the member in whatever position it has been moved to. The arrangement to prevent overtightening, described above, also applies here in that, no matter how tightly the holding screw (not shown) is done up, the tightness of the locking member will depend only upon the resilience of the pad 74. Instead of pad 74, a flat spring could be used, and this could be arranged to provide the additional advantage of the locking member having a "click stop" in either or both of its extreme positions.

As will be appreciated, assembly of the device is very quick and easy, since the components can all be placed in position, one by one, into the recess 34.

Once the components shown in Figure 1 have been assembled, it only remains -to insert the handle (with or without a nose as appropriate) from the front of the baseplate, and to secure the whole unit by inserting a screw (not shown) through the central bore 60. The completed unit is then ready to be screwed to a door or window frame, by the insertion of screws (not shown) through the bores 30, 32.

When the arrangement is to be used with an Espagnolette fitting, the plug member 54, the spring washer 62 and the fixing screw (not shown) are not required. Instead, a square-section shaft (not shown) is inserted through the centre of the assembled unit, from below as seen in Figure 1, and is received within the square-section bore 16 in the-spindle 14. The arrangement is held together by a bowed circlip, replacing the washer 62 shown in Figure 1, and locating in a spindle groove 72 (figure 4).

Claims (34)

1. A locking fastener comprising a mounting plate and a handle mounted with respect to the plate for pivotal movement between an open and a closed position, the mounting plate having a recess therein, an intermediate member within the recess, and a locking member held captive between the mounting plate and the intermediate member and arranged for rotation between a first position in which it abuts the formation on the handle, so locking the handle in the closed position, and a second position in which it clears the formation, so allowing movement of the handle to the open position.

2. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 1 in which the mounting plate comprises an external housing, with the recess open at the rear thereof.

3. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the locking member is located within a cavity defined by co-operating recesses on the mounting plate and on the intermediate member.

4. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the locking member is held in position, both rotationally and against movement along the axis of rotation, only by virtue of its being held between the mounting plate and the intermediate member, without any additional separate securement means.

5. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locking member includes a cylindrical portion, this cylindrical portion being received within a bore of the intermediate member or mounting plate.

6. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locking member is generally wedge-shaped.

7. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 when dependent upon Claim 3 in which the locking member comprises a generally wedge-shaped portion with a cylindrical spigot at one side thereof, the spigot being received within a. bore of one of the intermediate member or mounting plate, and the wedge-shaped portion being movable between the first and second positions within a generally wedge-shaped recess of the other of the intermediate member or mounting-plate.

8. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 7 in which the wedge-shaped recess defines stops allowing rotation of the locking member through substantially 900 between the first position and the second position.

9. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the Claims 1 to 7 in which the locking member is arranged for rotation through substantially 900 between the first position and the second position, the member abutting a stop in each respective position.

10. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including biassing means arranged to bias the locking member against the mounting plate or against the intermediate member.

11. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 10 in which the biassing means comprises a pad of a resilient material.

12. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a spindle of the handle, and the formation, extend through an aperture in a front face of the mounting plate, the aperture being so shaped as to provide a stop both at the open position of the handle and at the closed position.

13. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 12 in which the said aperture is defined by a first edge portion of a first diameter, a second edge portion of a second diameter, and two joining edge portions, comprising the stops, connecting the first and second edge portions.

14. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locking member is accessible from the front for actuation by means of a key.

15. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 14 in which the locking member is accessible via an aperture in a front surface of the mounting plate.

16. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15 in which the key is removable.

17. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15 in which the key is fixed.

18. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the intermediate member has a rearwardly-facing recess therein, within which is located a plug member which is keyed to a spindle of the handle.

19. A locking fastener as claimed in claim 18 in which the mounting plate, intermediate member and plug are secured together, and the whole secured to the spindle of the handle, by means of a single axial fastener.

20. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 19 in which the single axial fastener is a screw secured to an internal threaded bore of the spindle.

21. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 20 including abutment means between the spindle and plug to prevent seizure of the fastener by overtightening of the screw.

22. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 21 in which the stiffness of movement of the handle is dependent upon a secondary biassing means.

23. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 22 in which the secondary biassing means comprises a sprung washer between the plug and intermediate member.

24. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 17 in which the intermediate member has a rearwardly-facing recess therein, an elongate shaft extending from the said recess through the mounting plate and being keyed to a spindle of the handle.

25. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 24 in which the mounting plate and intermediate member are secured together and the whole secured to the spindle of the handle by a circlip received within a groove of the spindle.

26. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the handle and formation thereof are of one piece.

27. A fastener for a door or window comprising a mounting plate and a handle pivotally mounted with respect to the plate for movement between an open and a closed position, the mounting plate having a recess therein and an intermediate member within the recess, the intermediate member having a cylindrical recess therein within which is located a plug, or a shaft, which is keyed to rotate with the handle.

28. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 26, or a fastener as claimed in Claim 27, in which the handle includes a separate nose portion.

29. A locking fastener or a fastener as claimed in Claim 28 in which the nose portion is of a plastics material.

30. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 28 or Claim 29 in which the nose portion is spaced from a front surface of the mounting plate by a plastics material spacer.

31. A method of assembling a fastener comprising positioning an intermediate member within a rearwardlyfacing aperture in a mounting plate, with a locking member held captive between the mounting plate and the intermediate member, inserting a spindle of a handle through co-operating apertures in the front of the mounting plate and the front of the intermediate member, placing a plug member within the rearwardlyfacing recess of the intermediate member so as to key the plug member to the spindle, and securing the plug member to the spindle.

32. A method of assembling a fastener as claimed in Claim 31 including inserting a sprung washer into the aperture in the intermediate member prior to insertion of the plug member.

33. A method of assembling a fastener as claimed in Claim 31 or Claim 32 in which the plug member is secured to the spindle by inserting a screw through the plug member and into a threaded bore of the spindle.

34. A method of assembling a fastener substantially as specifically described, with reference to the drawings, with or without any of the modifications mentioned in the text.

34. A fastener substantially as specifically described, with reference to the drawings, with or without any of the modifications mentioned in the text.

35. A method of assembling a fastener substantially as specifically described, with reference to the drawings, with or without any of the modifications mentioned in the text.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A locking fastener comprising a mounting plate and a handle mounted with respect to the plate for pivotal movement between an open and a closed position, the mounting plate having a recess therein, an intermediate member within the recess, and a locking member located within and held captive by a cavity defined by cooperating recesses on the mounting plate and on the intermediate member and arranged for rotation between a first position in which it abuts a formation on the handle, so locking the handle in the closed position, and a second position in which it clears the formation, so allowing movement of the handle to the open position.

2. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 1 in which the mounting plate comprises an external housing, with the recess open at the rear thereof.

3. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the locking member is held in position, both rotationally and against movement along the axis of rotation, only by virtue of its being held between the mounting plate and the intermediate member, without any additional separate securement means.

4. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locking member includes a cylindrical portion, this cylindrical portion being received within a bore of the intermediate member or mounting plate.

5. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locking member is generally wedge-shaped.

6. A locking fastener as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the locking member comprises a generally wedge-shaped portion with a cylindrical spigot at one side thereof, the spigot being received within a bore of one of the intermediate member or mounting plate, and the wedge-shaped portion being movable between the first and second positions within a generally wedge-shaped recess of the other of the intermediate member or mounting plate.

7. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 6 in which the wedge-shaped recess defines stops allowing rotation of the locking member through substantially 900 between the first position and the second position.

8. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the Claims 1 to 6 in which the locking member is arranged for rotation through substantially 900 between the first position and the second position, the member abutting a stop in each respective position.

9. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including biassing means arranged to bias the locking member against the mounting plate or against the intermediate member.

10. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 9 in which the biassing means comprises a pad of a resilient material.

11. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a spindle of the handle, and the formation, extend through an aperture in a front face of the mounting plate, the aperture being so shaped as to provide a stop both at the open position of the handle and at the closed position.

12. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 11 in which the said aperture is defined by a first edge portion of a first diameter, a second edge portion of a second diameter, and two joining edge portions, comprising the stops, connecting the first and second edge.

portions.

13. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locking member is accessible from the front for actuation by means of a key.

14. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 13 in which the locking member is accessible via an aperture in a front surface of the mounting plate.

15. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14 in which the key is removable.

16. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14 in which the key is fixed.

17. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the intermediate member has a rearwardly-facing recess therein, within which is located a plug member which is keyed to a spindle of the handle.

18. A locking fastener as claimed in claim 17 in which the mounting plate, intermediate member and plug are secured together, and the whole secured to the spindle of the handle, by means of a single axial fastener.

19. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 18 in which the single axial fastener is a screw secured to an internal threaded bore of the spindle.

20. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 19 including abutment means between the spindle and plug to prevent seizure of the fastener by overtightening of the screw.

21. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 20 in which the stiffness of movement of the handle is dependent upon a secondary biassing means.

22. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 21 in which the secondary biassing means comprises a sprung washer between the plug and intermediate member.

23. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 16 in which the intermediate member has a rearwardly-facing recess therein, an elongate shaft extending from the said recess through the mounting plate and being keyed to a spindle of the handle.

24. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 23 in which the mounting plate and intermediate member are secured together and the whole secured to the spindle of the handle by a circlip received within a groove of the spindle.

25. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the handle and formation thereof are of one piece.

26. A fastener for a door or window comprising a mounting plate and a handle pivotally mounted with respect to the plate for movement between an open and a closed position, the mounting plate having a recess therein and an intermediate member within the recess, the intermediate member having a cylindrical recess therein within which is located a plug, or a shaft, which is keyed to rotate with the handle.

27. A locking fastener as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 25, or a fastener as claimed in Claim 26, in which the handle includes a separate nose portion.

28. A locking fastener or a fastener as claimed in Claim 27 in which the nose portion is of a plastics material.

29. A locking fastener as claimed in Claim 27 or Claim 28 in which the nose portion is spaced from a front surface of the mounting plate by a plastics material spacer.

30. A method of assembling a fastener comprising positioning an intermediate member within a rearwardlyfacing aperture in a mounting plate, with a locking member held captive between the mounting plate and the intermediate member, inserting a spindle of a handle through co-operating apertures in the front of the mounting plate and the front of the intermediate member, placing a plug member within the rearwardlyfacing recess of the intermediate member so as to key the plug member to the spindle, and securing the plug member to the spindle.

31. A method of assembling a fastener as claimed in Claim 30 including inserting a sprung washer into the aperture in the intermediate member prior to insertion of the plug member.

32. A method of assembling a fastener as claimed in Claim 30 or Claim 31 in which the plug member is secured to the spindle by inserting a screw through the plug member and into a threaded bore of the spindle.

33. A fastener substantially as specifically described, with reference to the drawings, with or without any of the modifications mentioned in the text.