GB2211882A

GB2211882A - Improvements in or relating to fasteners

Info

Publication number: GB2211882A
Application number: GB8725890A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Ernest Douglas; Nigel Philip Shenton
Original assignee: HASP INT Ltd
Current assignee: HASP INT Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-04
Filing date: 1987-11-04
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-04
Also published as: GB8725890D0; GB2211882B

Abstract

A locking fastener 1 for a closure such as a door or window comprises an inner rail 3 slidable relative to an outer member 4 and having a plurality of spaced apart bolts 13 arranged to project through respective key-hole openings 14 in the outer member 4 for engagement with respective keepers 15 to secure the closure closed. Each bolt 13 is detachably mounted in a bolt housing 12 secured to the rail 3 and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof when received in the enlarged end portion of the associated opening 14 to secure/release the bolt 13 and/or adjust the projecting length. To prevent tampering with the bolts 13 in the assembled condition, the rail 3 is confined for displacement of the bolts 13 within the narrow slot portion of the associated opening 14 in which the bolt 13 is non-rotatable. The bolts are intended to engage further keyhole apertures in a keeper rail. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FASTENERS This invention concerns improvements in or relating to fasteners for a closure member mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement between closed and open positions.

Fasteners are already known in which longitudinal displacement of a slide member under the control of a rotatable handle provides a fastening action to secure a closure member closed.

In such known fasteners, the slide member is connected to the handle by means for converting rotary movement of the handle into linear movement of the slide member. For example the slide member may be provided with a rack engaging a pinion mounted on a spindle connected to the handle.

In addition, the slide member may be adapted to secure the closure member at a plurality of spaced apart positions for increased security. For example, the slide member may have a plurality of spaced apart projecting bolt members for engagement with a corresponding plurality of keepers.

A disadvantage of many of the known fasteners is that they are of complex construction and difficult to install.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener which mitigates this disadvantage.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener in which the slide member has at least one detachable bolt member for assembly and installation of the slide member within a hollow frame member.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener in which the actuating mechanism for displacing the slide member is of simple construction.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fastener in which the slide member may be secured in the fastened position by a locking device of simple construction.

According to a first aspect of the present invention we provide a fastener for a closure member mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement between open and closed positions, the fastener comprising a slide member adapted for displacement longitudinally thereof between fastened and unfastened positions, the slide member having at least one bolt member projecting normal to the length of the slide member, the bolt member having an end portion adapted to secure releasably the bolt member to the slide member and a shank portion for reception in an opening in a member arranged to overly the slide member, the shank portion being of non-circular cross-section such that the bolt member is rotatable when the shank portion is received in an enlarged portion of the opening for securing or releasing the bolt member and is non-rotatable when the shank portion is received in a narrower slot portion of the opening.

By this feature of the releasable bolt member, installation of the slide member within the section of a hollow frame element of the closure member or a frame therefor is facilitated. Thus, the slide member may be inserted into the frame element which is provided with a key-hole opening through which the bolt member is subsequently inserted and secured to the slide member.

Preferably the bolt member is positioned in the narrower slot portion of the opening for sliding movement of the slide member between the fastened and unfastened positions. In this way tampering with the bolt member following assembly and installation is prevented.

Advantageously the bolt or a keeper therefor is spring loaded. As a result the bolt or keeper acts as a resilient buffer to reduce the risk of damage if the closure member is closed with the slide member in the fastened position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention we provide a fastener for a closure member mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement between open and closed positions, the fastener comprising a slide member and a rotatable actuator connected to the slide member by a drive rod guided for displacement in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the actuator whereby the slide member is displaced longitudinally thereof between fastened and unfastened positions on rotation of the actuator in opposed senses.

According to a third aspect of the present invention we provide a fastener for a closure member mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement between open and closed positions, the fastener comprising a slide member adapted for displacement longitudinally thereof between fastened and unfastened positions and a locking device for securing the slide member in the fastened position, the locking device comprising d lock bar arranged to extend normal to the slide member and rotatable between an operative position in which the lock bar retains the slide member in the fastened position and an inoperative position in which the lock bar releases the slide member for displacement between the fastened and unfastened positions.

An exemplary fastener embodying each of the aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hollow frame element incorporating the fastener; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the fastener; FIGURE 3 is an exploded isometric view of a bolt assembly; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a keeper; FIGURE 5 is an exploded isometric view of a sprung loaded keeper; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2 showing the assembly of a modified fastener; FIGURE 7 is an exploded isometric view of the actuating mechanism of the fastener; FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are side views showing the operation of the actuating mechanism shown in Figure 7;; FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are side views similar to Figures 8, 9 and 10 showing the operation of a modified actuating mechanism; FIGURE 14 is an exploded isometric view of the locking device of the fastener; and FIGURES 15, 16 and 17 are side views showing the operation of the locking device.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the fastener 1 is for use with a closure member 2 such as a door, window or the like mounted for sliding movement relative to a frame (not shown) between open and closed positions.

The fastener includes a slide member in the form of an elongate flat rail 3 mounted within the hollow section of a vertical frame element 4 of the closure member 2 for sliding movement longitudinally of the frame element 4 between fastened and unfastened positions.

The frame element 4 has opposed side walls 5 connected by inner and outer webs 6 and 7 respectively to define a longitudinally extending rectangular cavity 8 and opposed longitudinal flanges 9 contiguous with the side walls 5 and defining with the inner web 6 a longitudinally extending channel-section groove 10 in which the marginal edge of glazing (not shown) may be received.

The rail 3 is located and retained against the inner surface of the outer web 7 by opposed inwardly directed longitudinal ribs 11 on the inner surface of the side walls 5 and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart bolt housings 12 mounted on the rear surface between the ribs 11.

Each bolt housing 12 mounts a detachable sprung loaded bolt 13 arranged to project normal to the rail 3 through a key-hole opening 14 in the outer web 7 for engagement and disengagement with a corresponding aligned keeper 15 on the frame.

Each bolt 13 has a head 16, a neck 17 and a non circular shank 18 provided with opposed flats 19. Each shank 18 is formed with an internally threaded blind axial bore 20 in the end remote from the head 16.

Each bolt housing 12 has a mounting flange 21 and a cylindrical body 22 formed with a hexagonal bore 23 aligned with a circular hole 24 in the flange 21. A hexagonal piston 25 is slidably and non-rotatably mounted in the bore 23 and carries a screw 26 for threaded engagement with the blind bore 20 in the bolt shank 18 to releasably secure the bolt 13 to the rail 3. A spring 27 acts between the piston 25 and an end cap 28 closing the hexagonal bore 23 to bias the bolt 13 outwardly of the frame element 4 towards the keeper 15.

On assembly, the rail 3 with the bolt housings 12 secured thereto is inserted into and slid lengthwise of the frame element 4 to align the bolt housings 12 with the circular end portion of the key-hole openings 14 in the outer web 7. Each bolt shank 18 is then inserted through the opening 14 into the hexagonal bore 23 of the aligned housing 12 and the bolt 13 rotated to engage the screw 26 in the axial bore 20 to secure the bolt 13 and set the projecting length of the bolt 13.

In this way, each bolt can be accurately set independently of the others to eliminate any play between the bolts and the associated keepers when engaged. As a result, on securing the closure member closed a good fit is obtained in which free movement of the closure member is avoided.

Following such assembly, the rail 3 is displaced longitudinally to locate the bolt shanks 18 in the narrower slot portion of the key-hole openings 14 thereby preventing rotation of the non-circular shanks 18 which are retained in the narrower slot portion for sliding movement of the rail between the fastened and unfastened positions by a screw (not shown) mounted in the outer web 7 and engaging a slot (not shown) in the rail 3. In this way, rotation of the bolts 13 is prevented until the screw is removed and the rail 3 displaced to position the bolt shanks 18 in the circular end portions of the openings 14. As a result, tampering with the bolts 13 following assembly and installation of the fastener 1 is prevented.

Each keeper 15 has a fixed plate 29 formed with a key-hole opening 30 of which the circular end portion is aligned with and receives the corresponding bolt head 16 on closing the closure member 2 with the rail 3 in the unfastened position. Each bolt head 16 is trapped and retained to secure the closure member 2 closed on subsequent displacement of the rail 3 to the fastened position in which the bolt neck 17 is located in the narrower slot portion of the associated opening 30.

If the closure member 2 is closed with the rail 3 in the fastened position so that each bolt head 16 is aligned with the slot portion of the opening 30 in the associated keeper plate 29, the resilient biassing of the bolt 13 by the spring 27 allows the bolt 13 to retract into the housing 12 thereby avoiding damage to the keeper 15.

As an alternative to spring loading the bolts 13, the apertured keeper plate 29 may be sprung loaded as shown in Figure 5 so as to deflect if the closure member 2 is closed with the rail 3 in the fastened position. In this alternative arrangement, the springs 27 biassing the bolts 13 are omitted and each piston 25 is located against axial movement in the associated bore 23.

A modification to the fastener 1 is shown in Figure 6 in which the ribs 11 for locating and retaining the rail 3 on the inner surface of the outer web 7 are provided by a channel-section guide member 31 in which the rail 3 is slidably received. The guide member 31 is secured to the outer web 7 by spaced apart grub screws (not shown) and is formed with suitable spaced apart openings for passage of the bolt shanks 18 to secure the bolts 13 to the rail 3 as above-described and permit sliding movement of the rail 3.

An actuating mechanism 32 for displacing the rail 3 between the fastened and unfastened positions is shown in Figures 7 to 10 and includes a pair of similar handle assemblies 33 mounted on opposite sides of the frame element 4.

Each handle assembly 33 includes a base plate 34 releasably secured to the side wall 5 by screws 35 and a rotatable handle 36.

Each base plate 34 is formed with a vertical slot 37 and a horizontal slot 38 extending from the mid-point of the vertical slot 37 to form a T-shaped opening. On assembly, the slots 37,38 are aligned with each other and with square clearance openings 39 formed in the side walls 5.

The handles 36 are mounted for rotation by a common spindle 40 and are connected to the rail 3 by a common drive rod 41 spaced from and parallel to the spindle 40.

On assembly, the spindle 40 is received in the aligned horizontal slots 38 and the drive rod 41 is received in the aligned vertical slots 37 and extends through a hole 42 in a drive plate 43 secured to the rear face of the rail 3 between the ribs 11.

In operation of the actuating mechanism 32, the arrangement of the spindle 40 and drive rod 41 in the slots 37,38 is such that rotary movement of either handle 36 is translated into linear movement of the drive rod 41 within the vertical slots 37 which is transmitted to the rail 3 for displacing the rail 3 longitudinally of the frame element 4 between the fastened and unfastened positions.

A modification to the handle assembly 33 is shown in Figures 11 to 13 in which the horizontal slot 38 in the base plate 34 extends from one end of the vertical slot 37 giving an L-shaped opening in place of the T shaped opening above-described. The operation of this modified form of handle assembly 33 is the same as that above-described but the longitudinal displacement of the rail 3 is less.

The above-described actuating mechanism has a pair of handle assemblies which permit operation of the fastener from both sides of the closure member. In an alternative arrangement, one handle assembly only may be provided for operation of the fastener from one side of the closure member only. Such alternative arrangement has particular application to windows but may be provided in any situation where operation of the fastener from both sides of the closure member is not required.

A locking device 44 for securing the rail 3 in the fastened position is shown in Figures 14 to 17 and includes a square section lock bar 45 and a cylinder lock 46 operable by a key 47 to rotate the lock bar 45 between inoperative and operative positions.

The lock bar 45 is arranged to extend through aligned circular holes 48 in the side walls 5 of the frame element 4 and the projecting ends are received in respective blind recesses 49 in each of a pair of escutcheon plates 50 releasably secured to the side walls 5 by screws 51.

Mounted in each recess 49 is a respective U-shaped spring 52. The springs 52 engage the ends of the lock bar 45 and are offset relative to each other so that one spring 52 holds the lock bar 45 in the inoperative position and the other spring 52 holds the lock bar 45 in the operative position.

A housing 53 for the cylinder lock 46 is received in aligned openings 54 and 55 in the escutcheon plates 50 and side walls 5 respectively and is retained by a fixing screw 56 inserted through a hole 57 in the outer web 7 and a clearance hole (not shown) in the rail 3.

The cylinder lock 46 has a rotatable barrel 58 provided with a lug 59 arranged to project through an opening 60 in the housing 53 on rotation of the barrel 58 to engage a cam member 61 mounted on the lock bar 45 for rotating the lock bar 45 through 450 between the inoperative and operative positions.

Attached to the rear face of the rail 3 between the ribs 11 is a lock plate 62 having a longitudinally extending opening 63 formed in two parts of different widths connected by an abutment shoulder 64. The lock housing 53 extends through the wider part of the opening 63 which is of a length sufficient to permit sliding movement of the rail 3 relative to the housing 53 for displacement of the rail 3 between the fastened and unfastened positions.

The lock bar 45 has maximum and minimum transverse dimensions corresponding to the length "d on the diagonal and the length "s" on one side respectively and the narrower part of the opening 63 has a width "w" between these maximum and minimum dimensions.

In the fastened position of the rail 3, the lock bar 45 extends through the wider part of the opening 63 and is rotatable therein between the inoperative and operative positions respectively on actuation of the cylinder lock 46 by the key 47.

In the inoperative position, the lock bar 45 is positioned so that the minimum transverse dimension "s" is aligned with the narrower part of the opening 63.

As a result, the lock bar 45 is clear of the abutment shoulder 64 and may enter the narrower part of the opening 63 thereby permitting displacement of the rail 3 between the fastened and unfastened positions.

In the operative position, the lock bar 45 is positioned so that the maximum transverse dimension "d" is aligned with the narrower part of the opening 63.

As a result, the lock bar 45 engages the abutment shoulder 64 and is prevented from entering the narrower part of the opening 63 thereby securing the rail 3 in the fastened position.

The locking device above-described in which a respective escutcheon plate is provided on each side of the closure member may not be suitable for all applications and in certain instances it may be preferred to provide one escutcheon plate only.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the actuating mechanism and locking device are of simple construction facilitating assembly and fitment for which the principal fixings are the face mounting of the respective base plates and escutcheon plates. In a modification (not shown) the actuating mechanism and locking device may be provided with a common mounting plate in place of the base plates and escutcheon plates thereby further simplifying the construction for ease of assembly and fitment.

It will be understood that the features of the releasable bolts, actuating mechanism and locking device above-described may be provided separately or in combination with one or both of the other features.

In addition, it will be appreciated that the features of the actuating mechanism and locking device may be provided in fasteners in which a slide member is provided with one or more bolts for engagement with a suitable keeper or with one or more key-hole openings for engagement with headed bolts.

Furthermore, the actuating mechanism and locking device may be used with fasteners in which the slide member is mounted internally or externally of a frame element. For example, the slide member could be mounted on the outer surface of a transverse web of a hollow frame element with the drive plate and/or locking plate extending through an opening in the web into the hollow cavity of the frame element.

Finally, although in the embodiment above-described the closure member is mounted for sliding movement between open and closed positions, it will be understood that the invention in each of its aspects has application to closure members mounted for hinged or pivotal movement and that fasteners embodying one or more aspects of the invention may be mounted on vertical or horizontal frame elements of the closure member or the surrounding frame.

Claims

Claims:

1. A fastener for a closure member mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement between open and closed positions, the fastener comprising a slide member adapted for displacement longitudinally thereof between fastened and unfastened positions, the slide member having a bolt member projecting normal to the length of the slide member, the bolt member having an end portion adapted to secure releasably the bolt member to the slide member and a shank portion for reception in an opening in a member arranged to overlie the slide member, the shank portion being of noncircular cross-section such that the bolt member is rotatable when the shank portion is received in an enlarged portion of the opening for securing or releasing the bolt member and is non-rotatable when the shank portion is received in a narrower slot portion of the opening.

2. A fastener according to Claim 1 wherein the bolt member is engageable with a keeper in the fastened position.

3. A fastener according to Claim 2 wherein the bolt member is spring loaded.

4. A fastener according to Claim 2 wherein the keeper is spring loaded.

5. A fastener according to any one of the preceding Claims including a rotatable actuator connected to the slide member by a drive rod guided for displacement in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the actuatorfor displacing the slide member between the fastened and unfastened positions on rotation of the actuator in opposed senses.

6. A fastener according to Claim. 5 wherein the drive rod extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the actuator.

7. A fastener according to Claim 6 wherein the axis of rotation is movable in a direction normal to the direction of displacement of the drive rod.

8. A fastener according to Claim 7 wherein the drive rod and a rotatable spindle of the actuator are guided in respective slots extending perpendicular to one another.

9. A fastener according to Claim 8 wherein the slots are formed in a base plate of the actuator.

10. A fastener according to any one of the preceding Claims including a locking device for securing the slide member in the fastened position.

11. A fastener according to Claim 10 wherein the locking device comprises a lock bar arranged to extend normal to the slide member for rotation between an operative position in which the lock bar retains the slide member in the fastened position and an inoperative position in which the lock bar releases the slide member for displacement between the fastened and unfastened positions.

12. A fastener according to Claim 11 wherein the slide member has a lock plate provided with an opening through which the lock bar projects, the lock bar being rotatable in a first part of the opening between the operative and inoperative positions and being nonrotatable in a second part of the opening in the inoperative position.

13. A fastener according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 including means for holding the lock bar in the operative and inoperative positions.

14. A fastener according to Claim 13 including means for locking the lock bar in the operative position.

15. A fastener according to Claim 14 wherein the lock means comprises a key-operated lock having a rotatable barrel operatively connected to the lock bar for rotating the lock bar between the operative and inoperative positions.

16. A fastener according to Claim 15 wherein the lock bar carries a cam member engaged by a lug or like projection of the barrel.

17. A fastener for a closure member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A fastener for securing two relatively movable elements in a closed position comprising an elongate slide member adapted for mounting on one of the elements, a plurality of keepers adapted for mounting on the other of the elements, and a plurality of bolt members releasably secured to the slide member for engagement with the respective keepers to secure the elements in the closed position, each bolt member being slidably and non-rotatably received in a respective slot in a member arranged to overlie the slide member, and the slide member being movable to a release position in which each bolt member is received in a respective oversize opening permitting rotation of the bolt member to release the bolt member from the slide member.

19. A fastener according to Claim 18 wherein each bolt member is detachably mounted in a respective bolt housing secured to the slide member.

20. A fastener according to Claim 18 or Claim 19 wherein the slot and opening are of key-hole shape.

21. A fastener according to any one of Claims 18 to 20 wherein the slot and opening are formed in a hollow frame member of said one element.

22. A fastener for a closure such as a door or window comprising an inner rail arranged for sliding movement relative to an outer member and having at least one detachable bolt arranged to project through an opening in the outer member for engagement with a keeper to secure the closure closed, the bolt being rotatable about its longitudinal axis when received in an enlarged portion of the opening for releasing the bolt and being non-rotatable when received in a slot portion of the opening for preventing release of the bolt.

23. A fastener according to Claim 22 including means confining the rail for displacement of the bolt within the slot portion.

24. A fastener for a closure member mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement between open and closed positions, the fastener comprising a slide member and a rotatable actuator connected td the slide member by a drive rod guided for displacement in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the actuator whereby the slide member is displaced longitudinally thereof between fastened and unfastened positions on rotation of the actuator in opposed senses.

25. A fastener for a closure member mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement between open and closed positions, the fastener comprising a slide member adapted for displacement longitudinally thereof between fastened and unfastened positions, and a locking device for securing the slide member inthe fastened position, the locking device comprising a lock bar arranged to extend normal to the slide member and rotatable between an operative position in which the lock bar retains the slide member in the fastened position and an inoperative position in which the lock bar releases the slide member for displacement between the fastened and unfastened positions.