GB2208891A

GB2208891A - L0cking blocks for espagnolette mechanisms

Info

Publication number: GB2208891A
Application number: GB8819743A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Len Belcher
Original assignee: Linear Ltd
Current assignee: Linear Ltd
Priority date: 1987-08-19
Filing date: 1988-08-19
Publication date: 1989-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-19
Also published as: GB2208891B; GB8719560D0; GB8819743D0

Abstract

A locking block 16 for an espagnolette mechanism is mounted on a fixed frame 11 and receives the head of a drive pin 13 carried on a movable door or window leaf 10. The locking block 16 is movable in a housing 15 and has an inclined 316 surface so that, even if the head of the associated drive pin is not correctly spaced from the fixed frame, the pin head always engages the surface and moves with the locking block to the fully locked position. <IMAGE>

Description

LOCKING BLOCKS FOR ESPAGNOLETTE MECHANISMS The invention relates to locking blocks for espagnolette mechanisms.

In an espagnolette mechanism, a pair of headed drive pins carried on a movable hinged leaf are moved, on operation of a handle, into engagement with respective locking blocks carried on a fixed frame. The head of each drive pin enters a U-shaped slot provided in the associated locking block and engages behind a flange provided around the slot. The leaf may be a top or side hinged window leaf or a door.

It is preferred to have positive engagement between the head and the associated locking block, to prevent possible movement of the leaf when the drive pins are engaged. However, in order to accommodate variations in leaf/frame dimensions, the heads of the pins cannot be made an exact fit within the associated slots behind the flanges; rather the size of the slot must allow for variations in the position of the pin heads within the slots.

As a result of this, the pin heads, when first the mechanism is assembled, often do not engage positively behind the flange. One previouis proposal for overcoming this difficulty has been to provide pins of adjustable length, so that, when the mechanism is assembled on the window, the length of the pins can be adjusted to ensure the required engagement. However, this procedure can be time consuming and may even be overlooked.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a locking block assembly for an espagnolette mechanism comprising a housing having a base for fixing to a frame surface, and a locking block carried by the housing for movement relatively thereto between a forward position and a retracted position, the locking block including a surface facing said base, extending in the direction of said movement and spaced from said base by a distance which is a maximum at said one end and which decreases along the length of the surface from said one end so that, on locking, a head of a drive pin carried by a hinged leaf received in the frame moves from a position adjacent said one end to engage beneath the surface, with the locking block in the forward position, at a point along the length of the surface depending on the position of the head, the locking block then being moved by the drive pin towards the retracted position until the mechanism is fully locked.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an espagnolette mechanism comprising a bar carrying a pair of spaced drive pins for mounting on an edge of a hinged leaf with the drive pins extending in directions lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the leaf, the pins being movable together in said plane by operation of a handle, and two locking block assemblies for recessing respective drive pins and in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

The following is a more detailed description of two embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation in section of a window leaf and a co-operating fixed frame, the window leaf carrying a drive pin of a first form espangolette mechanism and the fixed frame carrying a first form of locking block assembly, Figure 2 is a plan view of the locking block assembly of Figure 1, the drive pin also being shown; and Figure 3 is an end elevation of the locking block assembly of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation in section of a window leaf and a co-operating fixed frame, the window leaf carrying a drive pin of a second form of espagnolette mechanism and the fixed frame carrying a second form of locking block assembly, the driving pin being disengaged from the locking block assembly, Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, but showing the drive pin engaged with the locking block assembly, and Figure 6 is a plan view of the drive pin and the locking block assembly in the position shown in Figure 4.

Referring first to Figure 1, the first form of espangolette mechanism is mounted on a window having a hinged movable leaf 10 received in a rebate in a fixed frame 11. The mechanism comprises two locking block assemblies, one of which is shown at 12, and a pair of drive pins, one of which is shown at 13. Each locking block assembly 12 is mounted on one surface 33 of the leaf-receiving rebate of the frame 11 - the surface whose plane is normal to the plane of the frame 11. The drive pins 13 are carried on a common bar 14 and project from an edge of the window leaf 10 that is opposite the hinged edge, with the direction of projection lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the leaf 10.Operation of a window handle (not shown) moves the pins in the direction of a line joining the pins 13, in conventional fashion, from an unlocked to a locking position, as will be described in more detail below.

The locking block assembly 12 comprises a housing 15, a locking block 16, a compression spring 17 and a tension pin 18. The housing 15 and the locking block 16 may be of die cast metal or of a plastics material. The compression spring 17 may be of stainless steel.

The housing 15 has upper and base surfaces 19,20 and is provided with a slot 21 closed at one end and extending between these surfaces from one end of the housing. A U-shaped flange 22 extends around the upper end of the slot 21 and two parallel guideways 23 extend along respective sides of the slot 21 (see Figures 2 and 3).

A projection 24 (see Figure 1) extends from the closed end of the slot 21, for a purpose to be described below.

The locking block 16 is received within the slot 21 for sliding movement. The block 16 is provided with side flanges 25 that are received in respective guideways 23 and a shaped upper surface 26 that engages beneath the housing flange 22. A rear portion of the block 16 is provided with a recess 27 which receives one end of the compression spring 17 - the other end fitting over the projection 24. The tension pin 18 (see Figure 3) projects into one guideway 23 to limit the forward movement of the locking block 16 by the spring 17.

The locking block 16 has a base surface 29 and a slot 30 closed at one end and extending between the surfaces 26,29 from one side of the block 16. The slot 30 is generally in register within the housing slot 21. The slot 30 is provided with a U-shaped flange 31 extending around the upper end of the slot 30. The flange 31 has, along its length, a varying spacing from the bases 20,29. At the open end of the slot 30, the flange 31 has initial portions 31a extending parallel to the base 29 at a maximum spacing. These lead to intermediate portions 31b of decreasing spacing along their length (constantly decreasing, as shown). Finally, there are terminal portions 31c parallel to the base 29 at a minimum spacing.

The flange 30 is provided with an undersurface 32 that is angled at 450 relative to a plane parallel to said bases 20,29 (see Figure 3).

In use, the two locking block assemblies 12 are screwed to the fixed frame surface 33 at such a position that, as seen in Figure 2, a drive pin 13 is located adjacent the open ends of the slots 21,30 of the housing 15 and the locking block 16, when the leaf 10 is closed into the fixed frame 11 with the drive pins in the unlocked position. Each drive pin has a head 34 including a bevelled surface 35 having an angle of 450 relative to a plane normal to the length of the pin 13. As seen in Figure 2, in this position, the locking block 16 is urged into a forward position by the compression spring 17.

The position of the head 34 of a drive pin 13 may vary relative to the fixed frame surface 33 as a result of variations in the dimensions and geometry of the window. It may be close to the surface 33, as shown in full line in Figure 1, or it may be spaced from the surface 33 up to the distance shown in broken line in Figure 1. If the pin head 34 is in the full line position shown in Figure 1, movement of the drive pin 13 to the locking position will cause the bevelled surface 35 of the head 34 to engage the correspondingly angled surface 32 of the terminal portions 31c of the flange 31 and then move the locking block 16 within the housing 15 until the drive pin 13 is in the full locking position.

If, however, the head 34 of the drive pin 13 is in the broken line position shown in Figure 1, the locking movement of the drive pin 13 will cause the head 34 to engage the initial portions 31a of the flange 31 and will then slide the locking block until the pin 13 reaches its full locking position. If the head 34 of the drive pin 13 is in an intermediate position (not shown) it will engage the angled intermediate portions 31b and again slide the guide block 16 in the housing.

It will thus be seen that, whatever the position of the head, the head 34 will always engage a portion of the flange 31. Thus, when the drive pins 13 are fully locked, there is always positive engagement of the heads 34 with the locking blocks 16 to prevent, in this position, movement of the pins 13 relative to the locking block assemblies 12.

The window leaf may be a top hung or a side hung window leaf. Alternatively, the espagnolette mechanism may be provided on a hinged door leaf received in a fixed door frame.

It will be appreciated that the locking block assemblies described above could be modified in a number of ways. The flange 22 on the housing 15 is not essential - the housing 15 has merely to mount the locking block 16 for sliding movement. The heads 34 need not be received in a slot 30 in the locking block, there may be provided simply a single elongate flange that engages one side only of the pin head 34. As shown, the initial portion 31a of the flange 31 is comparativelv short, either one or both of these portions may, however, be extended.

The angle of the surfaces 32, 35 as showin in 450 but it will be appreciated that this angle may be varied as required. For example it may be 300.

Referring next to Figures 4 to 6, the second form of espagnolette mechanism and the second form of locking block assembly have some parts in common with the first form of espagnolette mechanism and first form of locking block assembly described above with reference to figures 1 to 3. Those parts will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.

The mechanism of Figures 4 to 6 is to be mounted on a window having a hinged movable leaf 10 received in a rebate in a fixed frame 11 as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The mechanism comprises two locking block assemblies, one of which is shown at 50, and a pair of drive pins, one of which is shown at 51. Each locking block assembly 50 is mounted on one surface 33 of the leaf-receiving rebate of the frame 11 - the surface whose plane is normal to the plane of the frame. The drive pins 51 are carried on a common bar 14 as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. They are operated by a window handle as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

The locking block assembly 50 comprises a housing 52, a locking block 53 and a compression spring 54. The housing 52 and the locking block 53 may be of die-cast metal or of plastics material. The compression spring 54 may be of stainless steel.

The housing 52 has upper and base surfaces 55, 56 and is provided with a rectangular slot 57 closed at one end and extending between these surfaces from one end of the housing 52. Two parallel guideways 58 (see Figure 6) extend along respective sides of the slot 57. A projection 59 (see Figures 3 and 4) extends from the closed end of the slot 57, for a purpose to be described below.

The locking block 53 is received within the slot 57 for sliding movement by the provision of side flanges 60 that are received in respective guideways 58 in the locking block. Further, a periphery of the upper surface 61 of the locking block is engaged beneath the upper surface 55 of the housing 52 (see Figure 3).

A rear portion of the block 53 is provided with a recess 72 which receives one end of the compression spring 54 the other end fitting over the projection 59. The housing 52 is provided with a stop block 63 which limits the forward movement of the locking block 53 by the compression spring 54.

As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the locking block 53 is open at its front end. This opening includes a downwardly facing inclined planar flange in the form of a surface 64 whose spacing from the base surface 56 is a maximum at the leading end of the locking block 53 and decreases linearly to a minimum distance at the inner most end of the recess 62. The angle of this surface may be 220.

A vertical surface 65 connects the inner end of the planar surface to a base surface 56 of the locking block 53.

Each drive pin 51 comprises a main body portion 66 and a forwardly projecting wedge shaped portion 67, which has a lower surface 68 generally parallel to the rebate surface 33 and an inclined surface 69 angled relatively to the lower surface 68. This angle may be 220.

In use, two locking block assemblies 50 are screwed to the fixed frame surface 33 at such a position that, as seen in Figure 1, a drive pin 51 is located adjacent the leading end of each of the locking blocks 53, when the leaf 10 is closed into the fixed frame 11 with the drive pins in the unlocked position. In this position, each locking block 53 is urged into a forward position by the compression spring 54 so that it abuts the stop block 63.

As described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3, the position of the drive pin 51 may vary relative to the fixed frame surface 33, as a result of variations in the dimensions and geometry of the window. If the drive pin 51 is in a position shown in Figure 1, movement of the drive pin to a locking position will cause the inclined surface 68 of the drive pin 51 to engage the planar surface 64 in the position shown in Figure 4. The pin will then move the locking block 53 against the force of the compression spring 54 until the drive pin 51 is in a fully locked position.

If, however, the drive pin 51 is in the broken line position shown in Figure 4, the locking movement of the drive pin 51 will cause the inclined surface 69 to engage the planar surface 64 on the locking block 53 higher up the surface 64. Again there will be subsequent movement of the locking block 53 and drive pin 51 together to the fully locked position.

It will thus be seen that, whatever the position of the drive pin 51, the inclined surface 69 will always engage the angled planar surface 64 on the locking block 53.

Thus, when the drive pins 51 are fully locked, there is always positive engagement of the drive pins 51 with the locking blocks 53 to prevent, in this position, movement of the pins 51 relative to the locking block assemblies 50.

It will also be appreciated that the shallow angle of the planar surface 64 and the inclined surface 69 means that any attempted break-in will produce largely vertical forces between these faces. These forces will be transmitted via the side flanges 60 to the housing 52 and thence to the frame, so resisting the break-in.

It will be appreciated that the angle need not be 220, it could be any convenient angle.

As seen in Figure 6, each stop block 63 may be provided with a curved corner 70 adjacent the planar surface 64 and the leading end of the wedge portion 67 of each drive pin may be provided with a cut-away portion 71.

This allows the assembly to accommodate lateral variations in the position of the drive pins 51, since engagementof the cut-away portion 71 with the curved corner 70 of the stop block 63, due to lateral misalignment of the drive pins 51 on closing, will cause the curved corners 70 to guide the drive pins 51 into the locking blocks 53.

Claims

1. A locking block assembly for an espagnolette mechanism comprising a housing having a base for fixing to a frame surface, and a locking block carried by the housing for movement relatively thereto between a forward position and a retracted position, the locking block including a surface facing said base, extending along the direction of said movement and spaced from said base by a distance which is a maximum at one end and which decreases along the length of the flange from said one end so that, on locking, a head of a drive pin carried by a hinged leaf received in the frame moves from a position adjacent said one end to engage beneath the surface, with the locking block in the forward position, at a point along the length of the surface depending on the position of the head, the locking block then being moved by the drive pin towards the retracted position until the mechanism is fully locked.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the surface is a plane surface extending downwardly towards said base from a leading end of said locking block.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the angle of said surface is 220.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the surface is formed by a flange.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the flange includes an initial portion adjacent said one end extending parallel to said base at said maximum spacing and leading to an intermediate portion of decreasing spacing along the length thereof and ending in a terminal portion parallel to said base at a minimum spacing from said base.

6. An assembly according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the flange is provided with an angled surface for engaging a correspondingly angled surface on a head of a drive pin.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said angle is 450 relative to a plane parallel to said base.

8. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said flange is provided around a slot formed in said locking block within which a head of a drive pin is received.

9. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the locking block is slidable within a slot formed in the housing, a spring being provided between the locking block and the housing to urge the locking block into said forward position.

10. A locking block assembly for an espagnolette mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or to Figures 4 to 6 of the accompany drawings.

11. An espagnolette mechanism comprising a bar carrying a pair of spaced drive pins for mounting on an edge of a hinged leaf with the drive pins extending in directions lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the leaf, the pins being movable together in said plane by operation of a handle, and two locking block assemblies for receiving respective drive pins and according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. An espagnolette mechanism according to claim 11 wherein each locking block assembly is according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and wherein each pin includes a central portion and a projection portion having an inclined planar surface for co-operation with the surface on the associated locking block.

13. An espagnolette mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.