GB2212850A - Window fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

A fastener (10), such as for a window, comprises a handle (16) rotatably mounted on a mounting plate (12), the handle comprising a plurality of formations (32A, 32B) selectively cooperable with a keeper (24) to provide a choice of at least two ventilation positions of the window. Securing means takes the form of a threaded securing element having an enlarged rounded head (56), carried in a bore in the handle (16), the securing means being located on the opposite side of the axis (A) of rotation of the handle (16) to that portion (30) of the handle (16) which is engageable with the keeper (24). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Fastener" Description of Invention This invention relates to a fastener of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) intended for use in the fastening of a.wing such as a window against undesired movement thereof and comprising a mounting part, usually intended to be mounted on a movable frame of a window, and a handle part rotatably mounted on the mounting part for movement between operative and inoperative positions, wherein the fastener, when in the operative position, may cooperate with a keeper such as may be provided on a fixed frame of the window, to restrain movement of the window.

It is to be understood that the term "window" as used herein can mean not only a window but also any other wing for which such a fastener is suitable.

In many known fasteners of the kind specified, the fastener may cooperate with the keeper in a window-restraining manner only when the window is in a fully closed position, whilst in other known fasteners of the kind specified, the construction and arrangement is such that the fastener may additionally cooperate with the keeper for a single "ventilation" position of the window in which the window is slightly ajar rather than being fully closed. However, the ventilation position thus provided is often not suitable for prevailing environmental conditions.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved fastener of the kind specified.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fastener of the kind specified, the construction and arrangement of which is such that in use on a window, in the operative position of the fastener, the fastener may cooperate with the keeper to restrain the window against undesired movement, in a fully closed position of the window, and in at least two distinct ventilation positions of the window.

In this manner, the fastener provides the user with a choice of at least two ventilation positions or stages in which the window may be fastened, to suit given environmental conditions so that the aforementioned disadvantage of prior fasteners is avoided.

Preferably the fastener comprises a plurality of formations selectively cooperable with the keeper, corresponding in number to the number of window positions in which the fastener, in its operative position, may cooperate with the keeper to restrain movement of the window.

Preferably, the handle part of the fastener comprises two or more receiving formations which in respective ventilation positions may respectively receive a protruding formation on the keeper.

The receiving formations may comprise openings (e.g. hollows, openended cut-outs or through-holes) in the handle part.

The protruding formation on the keeper is preferaby capable of cooperating with the receiving formations in a wedging manner to assist secure fastening.

The handle part may be in the form of a lever, with a graspable portion extending generally transversely to its axis of rotation, in which case said formations selectively cooperable with the keeper may advantageously be provided, suitably spaced from each other, in an enlarged portion of the lever situated between said axis and said graspable portion. In this manner, accommodation of said formations, for example said two or more receiving formations, may be achieved in a constructionally convenient, and aesthetically acceptable, manner.

When the window is so fastened in a ventilation position, it will be appreciated that the ajar state of the window may enable a potential intruder (e.g. using a narrow implement or the like) to gain access, from outside, to the fastener mounted on the interior side of the window, by such gap as may then exist between the fixed and movable frames of the window, in order to turn the handle part to its inoperative position and thereby open the window.

Thus, desirably, the fastener further comprises means for securing the handle part against unauthorised movement relative to the mounting part, when the handle part is in its operative position.

Such securing means may be any conventional securing means suitable for the task, but is preferably in accordance with the second and/or third aspects of the invention, as will now be defined.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastener of the kind specified, wherein a porton of the handle part which, in the operative position, over lies a portion of the mounting part, is provided with a through-bore having a threaded portion which receives a correspondingly threaded shank of a securing eiement, and a portion of enlarged diameter, facing away from the mounting part, which receives an enlarged head of the securing element, said head having means for receiving a key or the like by which a user may effect rotation, and hence linear movement of the securing element, wherein, in the securing position of the securing element, the head is capable of lying at least substantially wholly within said portion of enlarged diameter, and the extremity of the shank remote from the head cooperates in a securing manner with the mounting part.

Preferably the cooperation with the mounting part is by receipt of a substantial length of the shank in a bore in the mounting part, sufficient to prevent any slight play at the axis of the fastener from being detrimental to security.

In this manner, greater security may be provided than by a conventional mere "grub screw" arrangement, since a substantially larger securing element may be used, while the securing element remains out of view in the securing position.

Preferably, the head of the securing element may also remain within the bore portion of enlarged diameter when in a position in which the handle part is no longer secured against movement.

The head may have a convex outwardly presented surface, with a circular, or generally circular, periphery (i.e. it may be a "button head").

The head may comprise a hexagonal socket or the like to receive an Allen-type key or the like.

Preferably, the securing position is defined by abutment between the head and a shoulder between the different-diameter portions of the bore.

The handle part of the fastener may be in the form of a lever, having a graspable portion extending generally transversely to the axis of rotation, in which case the securing means may be provided on the far side of the axis of rotation from the graspable portion.

Such a position for the securing means is particularly convenient and advantageous where the fastener is additionally in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, in the case where the aforesaid plurality of formations are located between said axis and said graspable portion.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastener of the kind specified, wherein the handle part comprises a portion engageable with the keeper to fasten the wing, and securing means for securing the handle part against undesired movement of the handle part, the securing means acting between the mounting part and the handle part at a location on the far side of said axis to said keeper engageable portion.

In this manner, security may be improved.

Preferably, the handle part is in the form of a lever extending generally transversely to the axis of rotation, and comprises, disposed in the following order, the securing means, the axis, the keeper engageable portion and a graspable portion.

A fastener in accordance with the invention may be in accordance with any one or more of the aforesaid aspects of the invention, One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective front view of a fastener in accordance with the invention, together with an associated keeper; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the fastener of Figure I on the plane X-X of Figure l; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the fastener of Figures I and 2, on the plane Y-Y of Figure I showing the fastener in use on a window in the fully closed position of the window; FIGURES 4 and 5 are cross-sectional plan views on the same plane as Figure 3, showing the keeper and fastener in respective distinct ventilation positions of the window.

Referring first to Figures I and 2 of the drawings, a fastener 10 in accordance with the invention is expressly of the "kind specified". The fastener 10 is intended for use in the fastening of a wing such as a window or the like against undesired movement thereof, the fastener 10 comprising a mounting part 12 which may be mounted on a movable frame of the window, using screws passed through respective holes 14, and a handle part 16 rotatably mounted on the mounting part 12 by a shaft 18 which passes through suitable bores in the parts 12 and 16, whereby the handle part I is rotatably movable, about an axis A defined by the shaft 18 and said bores, between an operative position (illustrated) and an inoperative position. The shaft 18 has an enlarged head 20 and is suitably enlarged at its other end 22 during assembly, to ensure thot the parts 12 and 16 are held together securely. In the operative position, the handle part 16 cooperates with a protruding formation 23 on a keeper 24 which may be mounted (e.g. using screws through holes 26) on a fixed frame of the window to restrain movement of the window, as will hereinafter be described. Alternative keepers may have the holes differently positioned e.g. above and below a formation corresponding to the formation 23.

The handle part 16 is in the form of a lever having a manually graspable portion 28 extending generally transversely to the axis A, and having an enlarged portion 30 situated between the axis A and the portion 28.

The portion 30 is provided with a plurality (in this example, two) of spaced-apart openings in the form of through-holes 32A and 32B (although they could alternatively be hollows or open-ended cut-outs) which may each receive the protruding formation 23 of the keeper 24 as will hereinafter be described. The handle part 16 may be formed by a stamping operation, and the openings 32A, 32B may then be formed by that stamping operation.

Alternatively, the handle part 16, including the openings 32A, 32B, may be formed by die-casting.

In use, the fastener 10 is mounted on the movable frame 40 of a window (Figure 3) and the keeper 24 is mounted on a fixed frame 42, with the protruding portion 23 disposed at a height corresponding to that of the openings 32A, 32B (when the part 16 is in its operative position) and below that of a hub portion 15 of the mounting part 12.

With the handle part 16 in its inoperative position (i.e. pivotted about 450 or more anti-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 1), the window is in an unfastened state and may be moved back and forth in the direction B without interference between the handle part 16 and the protrusion 23.

However, if the window is fully closed (Figure 3) and the handle part 16 is then rotated clockwise to its operative (Figure I) position, the protrusion 23 is received between the mounting part 12 and the enlarged portion 30, and an inclined surface of the protrusion 23 engages a rear surface 44 formed on the enlarged portion 30, so that as the handle part 30 is rotated to the operative position, the frame 40 is drawn to a fully closed position thereof by a wedging action.

If alternatively it is desired to secure the window in a slightly ajar, ventilation position, the handle part 30 is instead returned to its operative position with the window in such an ajar position, so that the protrusion 23 is instead received by a selected one (or other) of the openings 32A, 32B. In Figure 4, the protrusion 23 is received by the opening 32A, giving a first ventilation position, whilst in Figure 5 the protrusion 23 is received by the opening 32B, giving a distinct second ventilation position, the wedge shape of the protrusion 23 ensuring a generally snug fit in the opening 32A or 32B.

Thus, through adopting a construction and arrangement. including provision of two such openings 32A, 32B, a user is given a choice of two distinct ventilation positions or stages in which the window may be fastened, to suit given environmental conditions, which choice has not hitherto been available in a fastener of the kind specified.

A step 23A formed on the protrusion 23 serves the purpose of preventing the handle part 16 from being turned clockwise (Figure I) beyond its operative position, as will be appreciated from each of Figures 3 to 5.

It will be appreciated that accommodation of the openings 32A, 32B in the enlarged portion 30 is constructionally convenient and aesthetically acceptable, and that the resulting handle part 16 is robust by virtue of the hoop-like form of the enlarged portion 30 around said openings The fastener 10 comprises means for securing the handle part 16 against unauthorised movement relative to the mounting part 12, when the handle part 16 is in its operative position, in order to prevent the handle part from being turned from the operative postion to its inoperative position by a potential intruder who may gain access to the handle part 16, from outside a window, when the window is fastened in a slightly ajar position.

The securing means of the fastener 10 comprises, in a portion 50 thereof on the far side of the axis A from the lever 28, a through bore 5 1 having an internally threaded portion 52 which receives a correspondingly threaded shank 53 of a securing element 54, and a portion 55 of enlarged diameter facing away from the mounting part 12, which portion 55 receives an enlarged head 56 of the securing element 54, said head 56 having means (in this example a hexagonal opening) for receiving a key or the like (e.g. an Allen-type key) by which a user may effect rotation, and hence linear movement of, the securing element 54, wherein, in a securing position of the securing element (Figure I) the head 56 lies wholly within said portion 55 of enlarged diameter and an extremity 57 of the shank remote from the head cooperates in a securing manner with the mounting part 12, by virtue of a substantial length of the shank being received in a bore 58 in the part 12.

In this manner, rotation of the handle part 16 relative to the mounting part 12 may be prevented, to the benefit of security, using a substantially larger securing element than has been used in prior "grub-screw" arrangements. It will be appreciated that the securing element 54 remains out of view in the securing position, and also that (see Figure 2) even in a position in which the securing element is withdrawn from the bore 58 so as not to prevent such rotation, the head 56 may remain within said bore portion 55, making it more difficult to ascertain the nature of the locking device by a mere casual glance.

As will be appreciated from Figure 2, an annular shoulder is formed, in the bore 51, between the bore portion 55 and the smaller-diameter threaded bore portion 52. Importantly, in use, the securing position of the element 54 is defined by abutment between the head 56 and said annular shoulder, which shoulder acts as a rigid stop against further tightening movement of the element 54, so avoiding problems of thread-stripping which could occur if the securing position were (less-well) defined by abutment of the extremity 57 with the bottom of the bore 58 in the part 12 on which the part 16 is (not absolutely rigidly) mounted.

The head 56 is of "button head" type, having a convex outwardly presented surface, with an at least substantially circular periphery, making it difficult to turn the securing element other than by use of the correct key.

Even if the element 54 is inadvertently withdrawn further from the bore than is illustrated in Figure 2, so that the button head 56 protrudes partly from the bore, the convex surface of the head prevents the head from being gripped sufficiently reliably by its external surface, for it to be withdrawn still further, or even removed completely by an unauthorised person, without use of the key.

It will be appreciated that in the operative position, the portion 50 of the handle part 16 overlies the portion of the hub 15 containing the bore 58.

An important and most advantageous feature of the fastener illustrated is that the securing means acts between the mounting part and the handle part at a location on the far side of the axis A to that portion of the handle part which engages the keeper during use.

Should, for example, the window be left secured by the fastener in a slightly ajar position, with the securing element in its securing position (Figure 1), it may still be possible for a would-be intruder to insert a thin implement through such gap as may then exist between the movable window frame and the fixed frame, and to pull the movable frame in an outward direction away from the fixed frame.Such pulling of the movable window frame causes the graspable lever portion of the handle part to be urged away from the mounting part, under action of the keeper, but because the securing means of the fastener 10 is on the opposite side of the axis to the portion which engages the keeper, this urging causes the securing element to be pushed further into the bore 58, thereby increasing security against unouthorised rotation of the handle part using such a thin implement.

This is in contrast to prior fasteners having their securing means located between the fastener axis and the portion of their handle part which engages the keeper, where such outward pulling may bodily displace the securing means on the handle part from its engagement with the mounting part, allowing the aforesaid thin implement to be used to effect unauthorised rotation of the handle part.

Furthermore, in the fastener 10 in accordance with the invention, the securing means is sufficiently close to the axis A, and the shank of the securing element enters the bore 58 sufficiently deeply, for any slackness introduced at the axis, through prolonged normal use or by force by unauthorised person, to have little or no detrimental effect on security.

It will be appreciated that fasteners of alternative construction may remain within the scope of the invention, offering such advantages as have hereinbefore been described in relation to the specific example illustrated, and in general terms.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS:

1. A fastener of the kind specified, the construction and arrangement of which is such that in use on a window, in the operative position of the fastener, the fastener may cooperate with the keeper to restrain the window against undesired movement, in a fully closed position of the window, and in at least two distinct ventilation positions of the window.

2. A fastener according to Claim I comprising a plurality of formations selectively cooperable with the keeper, corresponding in number to the number of window positions in which the fastener, in its operative position, may cooperate with the keeper to restrain movement of the window.

3. A fastener according to Claim 2 wherein the handle part of the fastener comprises two or more receiving formations which in respective ventilation positions may respectively receive a protruding formation on the keeper.

4. A fastener according to Claim 3 wherein the receiving formations comprise openings (e.g. hollows, open-ended cut-outs or through-holes) in the handle part.

5. A fastener according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the protruding formation on the keeper is capable of cooperating with the receiving formations in a wedging manner, to assist secure feastening.

6. A fastener according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle part is in the form of a lever, with a graspable portion extending generally transversely to its axis of rotation.

7. A fastener according to Claim 6 where directly or indirectly dependent upon any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein said formations selectively cooperable with the keeper are provided, suitably spaced from each other, in an enlarged portion of the lever situated between said axis and said graspable portion.

8. A fastener according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising means for securing the handle part against unauthorised movement relative fo the mounting part, when the handle part is in its operative position.

9. A fastener of the kind specified, wherein a porton of the handle part which, in the operative position, overlies a portion of the mounting part, is provided with a through-bore having a threaded portion which receives a correspondingly threaded shank of a securing element, and a portion of enlarged diameter, facing away from the mounting part, which receives an enlarged head of the securing element, said head having means for receiving a key or the like by which a user may effect rotation, and hence linear movement of, the securing element, wherein, in the securing position of the securing element, the head is capable of lying at least substantially wholly within said portion of enlarged diameter, and the extremity of the shank remote from the head co-operates in a securing manner with the mounting part.

10. A fastener according to Claim 9 wherein the cooperation with the mounting part is by receipt of a substantial length of the shank in a bore in the mounting part.

11. A fastener according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the head of the securing element may also remain within the bore portion of enlarged diameter when in a position in which the handle part is no longer secured against movement.

12. A fastener according to any one of Claims 9 to 11 wherein the head has a convex outwardly presented surface, with a circular, or generally circular, periphery.

13. A fastener according to any one of Claims 9 to 12 wherein the head comprises a hexagonal socket or the like to receive an Allen-type "key" or the like.

14. A fastener according to any one of Claims 9 to 13 wherein the securing position is defined by abutment between the head and a shoulder between the different-diameter portions of the bore.

15. A fastener according to any one of Claims 9 to 14 wherein the handle part of the fastener is in the form of a lever, having a graspable portion extending generally transversely to the axis of rotation.

16. A fastener according to Claim 15 wherein the securing means is provided on the far side of the axis of rotation from the graspable portion.

17. A fastener of the kind specified, wherein the handle part comprises a portion engageable with the keeper to fasten the wing, and securing means for securing the handle part against undesired movement of the handle part, the securing means acting between the mounting part and the handle part at a location on the far side of said axis to said keeper-engageable portion.

18. A fastener according to Claim 17 wherein the handle part is in the form of a lever extending generally transversely to the axis of rotation and comprises, disposed in the following order, the securing means, the axis, the keeper engageable portion and a graspable portion.

19. A fastener in accordance with any one of Claims I to 8 and any one of Claims 9 to 16.

20. A fastener in accordance with Claim 17 or Claim 18 and any one of Claims I to 8 and/or any one of Claims 9 to 16.

21. A fastener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.