GB2215373A - Safety catch for tilt/turn window systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety catch for a tilt/turn window system comprises a spring loaded shoot bolt 20, 21 which engages an abutment 9 on a drive transmission plate 7 to restrict displacement of the plate 7, and a manually operable release member 13 for retracting the shoot bolt 20, 21 clear of the abutment 9 to permit displacement of the plate 7. The catch enables operation of the system to be controlled selectively, for example to permit selection of the tilt mode and prevent selection of the turn mode until the shoot bolt 20, 21 has been disengaged from the abutment 9. The release member 13 is pivotally mounted in a body 12 fixed to the front reveal face 5 of a casement member 1 by a screw 29 and has two fork arms 17 at one end engaging a transverse pin 24 at the end of the shoot bolt 20, 21 and a push button 16 at the other end for manually pivotting the release member 13 to retract the shoot bolt 20, 21 against the spring force. The catch is re-set automatically when the push button portion 16 is released by means of the spring force which acts to return the shoot bolt 20, 21 to an operative position for engagement with the abutment 9. <IMAGE>

Description

SAFETY CATCH FOR TILT/TURN WINDOW SYSTEMS This invention concerns a safety catch device for use with window systems of the kind commonly called tilt and turn to prevent inadvertent actuation of the system in the incorrect mode.

In tilt/turn window systems, the arrangement is for the casement to be hinged for both tilting and turning movement relative to the fixed frame. The hinge connections between the casement and the frame are disengagable and engagable to change the operable hinge connection from a vertical axis for turning movement of the casement to a horizontal axis for tilting movement of the casement. Various forms of such hinge arrangements are known, and various special designs have been developed to ensure that disengagement and engagement of the hinge connections is controlled to avoid inadvertent disengagement of hinge connections resulting in the casement being disconnected from the frame or merely supported by a single hinged connection.

The operation and actuation of the tilt/turn system is conventionally carried out through an operating handle or the like which is carried on the free edge of the sash frame which is opposed to the edge which is hingedly connected to the fixed frame for the turning movement. The handle is rotatable between three limit positions which correspond to closed/locked, tilt mode and turn mode, and the handle is connected via a suitable mechanism to the drive transmission which extends around the casement frame.

The drive transmission includes a series of drive plates or rods which extend around the casement within a rebate or groove and which are connected to the hinge mechanisms to control engagement and disengagement of the appropriate hinge mechanisms depending on the direction of movement and actuation of the drive plates or rods.

The drive plates or rods which provide the drive transmission are often provided with multiple bolting means that comprise bolting heads for engagement with strike formations provided in the fixed frame. Thus, in most conventional tilt and turn systems there is a multiple bolting arrangement which is arranged to be operated when the handle is moved to the closed position to secure the casement in the closed position by the inter-engagement of the multiple bolting heads with the striker formations in the fixed frame.

In the use and operation of such tilt and turn systems, the user is often confused about operating the handle to select the desired mode, and it is not uncommon for the user to to turn the handle from one position to another whilst pushing on the casement. It is also found that the user may turn the handle when the casement is open either as a side-hung casement in the turn mode or as a bottom hung casement in the tilt mode. The consequences of some of the misuses of the handle are extremely dangerous and can result in damage to the system.

In order to overcome these practical problems arising from user behaviour, window systems have been designed to include secret devices concealed within the frame rebate and associated with the drive transmission or one or more hinges both to prevent turning of the control handle when the system is in one mode, or to provide an over-ride arrangement which has to be manually released if the system becomes jammed or displaced due to misuse. The cost and complexity of such devices and arrangements is high, and in order for a user properly to use the window fitted with the system, it is essential that these special features are learnt in advance.In some situations, the user is not competent to understand the operation of some secret or concealed device, and often the user is not capable of operating some devices which are not readily accessible or visible and for which manual dexterity is required.

From the foregoing explanation of the background to such tilt and turn systems and the practical problems that arise, it will be understood that the purpose of this invention is to provide a simple safety catch for use with typical tilt/turn systems.

It is an object of this invention to provide a safety catch that can be employed with a wide range of existing tilt/turn systems.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple safety device that is easy for the user to operate and easy to comprehend.

Other objects of this invention will be understood from the description later herein of the invention and an exemplary embodiment and the technical merits referred to.

According to this invention, we provide a safety catch device in or for a window having a fixed frame and a tilt and turn system mounting a casement for selected hinged movement relative to the frame, the device comprising a body adapted for mounting to the front reveal face of a casement member, the body mounting a spring-loaded shoot bolt arranged to project through an access aperture opening into a rebate extending behind the reveal face and in which the drive transmission of the tilt/turn system extends for longitudinal movement relative to the casement member, an abutment on the drive transmission a-rranged for engagement with the shoot bolt when in the safety mode projecting into the rebate to prevent movement of the drive transmission in one sense, and the body mounting an operable release member arranged to act on the shoot bolt to retract the bolt out of engagement with the abutment on the drive transmission so that longitudinal movement of the drive transmission in said one sense is enabled.

By this invention, there is provided a simple device which includes a shoot bolt that is arranged to engage an abutment on the drive transmission of the tilt/turn system, and the shoot bolt serves to prevent longitudinal movement of the drive mechanism in one direction until the bolt is retracted out of such interfering engagement. The device is mounted on the front face of the casement member so that it is visible to the user and can be operated in a simple manner when the user requires to change the mode of the tilt/turn system by an operating handle or the like and when the system is in one of the tilt or the turn modes and is desired to be changed to the other.

Conveniently, the operable release member is pivotally mounted and coupled to the spring-loaded shoot bolt and includes a push button portion so that on applying a force to the button portion of the member, the bolt is retracted against the spring force into an inoperative position clear of the abutment on the drive transmission.

By such an arrangement, the shoot bolt is normally biassed by the spring into the operative bolting position so that inadvertent operation of the system to change the mode of use of the system from tilt to turn cannot be achieved unless the button portion is pushed.

This safety device is easy to use and easy to comprehend and does not require any special skills and is suitable for use even by handicapped or elderly.

Preferably, the shoot bolt comprises a spindle on which there is mounted for relative axial adjustment a shoot whereby the projected distance of the shoot bolt into the rebate to engage the abutment may be adjusted.

This adjustable feature enables the safety device to be used with various sizes and types of tilt/turn systems and styles and types of casement and fixed frame arrangements.

In a preferred arrangement the axial adjustment of the shoot is provided by threaded engagement of the shoot and spindle whereby the shoot may be rotated to adjust the axial position of the shoot and hence the projected distance of the shoot bolt into the rebate.

The shoot may be adapted to be retained against axial adjustment relative to the spindle when the device is mounted on the casement member. For example, the shoot may be of non-circular external cross-section such as hexagonal received in a complementary portion of the access aperture to prevent rotation of the shoot relative to the spindle.

In this way, the shoot cannot be adjusted from the outer rebate face of the casement member. Thus, the shoot cannot be removed or tampered with to release the device from the outside of the casement.

The body is conveniently adapted for face fixing to the casement member through an opening in the member by means of a threaded fastener.

The threaded fastener may be arranged to be inserted from the rebate and engaging in a threaded bore provided in the body opening to the underside of the body.

By such a fixing arrangement, the head of the threaded fastener is concealed within the rebate of the casement member and is not accessible from the front reveal face of the casement. Thus, it is not possible for the safety device to be removed or tampered with from the front of the casement.

In an alternative arrangement the threaded fastener may be arranged to be inserted through the body from the front of the casement and engaging in a threaded bore provided in a retainer block received in the rebate.

With this fixing arrangement, the head of the threaded fastener is not accessible from the outer rebate face of the casement. As a result, it is not possible to remove or tamper with the fastener to release the security device from the outside of the casement.

Preferably, the body also includes a projecting hollow spigot that is received in the access aperture and is adapted to support the shoot bolt for sliding movement between the operative and retracted positions.

With this arrangement of the threaded fastener and the projecting spigot, all that is required to fix and secure the safety device to an existing casement member is to make two holes through the casement member, preferably using a simple jig, guide or template, and then the body can be accurately located and fixed to the casement member.

The abutment on the drive transmission can be a member secured to the drive, such as a hardened boss which is located in the correct position with reference to both the mode operative position of the drive transmission and to the selected position of the safety device body. The abutment may comprise one of the hardened bolting heads that are mounted on the drive transmission for engagement with striker means on the fixed frame when the system is in the closed locked mode. In either case, the provision of a simple form of abutment on the typical plate or rod forming the drive transmission is an easy mechanical fitting operation or using a jig or guide template to ensure that the relative locations of the abutment and shoot bolt are in the correct position when the system is in one mode.

In a preferred construction of the safety device, the shoot bolt has a transverse pin mounted through the inner end and this is engaged by a forked end of the operable release member remote from the pivot support and the button portion so that on actuation, the forked end acts on the shoot bolt to retract it out of the operative position against the spring force whilst the spring force acts as a return spring to move the shoot bolt back into the operative position once pressure on the push button portion is released.

By this preferred construction, the push button is only used to retract the bolt and as the spring force acts to hold the shoot bolt in the operative position, if the spring should fail, then the push button can still be operated to retract the shoot bolt to permit actuation of the tilt/turn system. This is a fail-safe construction so that the provision of the safety device does not interfere with operation of the tilt/turn system if the safety device should fail or be interfered with in some manner. In addition, the spring force is transmitted through the forked end so that the release member is held securely in the body and automatically returns to the operative position after use.

Other features of the invented safety device will now be described with reference to exemplary embodiments of the device as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 is an illustrative perspective view (partly broken away and in section) depicting a first embodiment of the invented safety device as applied to a casement member including drive transmission typical of a tilt/turn system, the safety device being shown in the operative position; FIGURE 2 is an illustrative view similar to that of Figure 1 but depicting the safety device in the retracted position to permit operation of the drive transmission means; FIGURE 3 is a detail exploded view of the component parts of the safety device as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the casement member; and FIGURE 4 is an illustrative perspective view (partly broken away and in section) similar to Figure 1 depicting a second embodiment of the invented safety device as applied to a casement member including drive transmission typical of a tilt/turn system, the safety device being shown in the operative position.

In the exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings, the safety device is shown as applied to a typical casement member 1 of hollow section and defining a glazing channel 2 in which one edge of glazing would be received, an exterior face 3 and a rebate 4 which in the assembled window would lie adjacent to the outer fixed frame (not shown). The casement member 1 further comprises a front reveal face 5 which is that face revealed to the interior of the structure in which the window assembly is installed and which would be visible to the user when inside the structure.

The rebate 4 extends longitudinally of the casement member 1 and within the rebate there is a groove 6 provided to receive and/or support drive transmission for a tilt and turn system that extends in known manner around the peripheral extent of the rebates for the whole casement.

In the exemplary embodiments, the drive transmission for the tilt/turn system is an elongate plate 7 of which only part is shown, and which would be connected to mechanisms for operating hinge arrangements of known kind for the alternative selection of tilt or turn or closed modes of the system.

It is not considered necessary to describe such known tilt/turn systems herein to understand the invention and it will be understood that the casement member is one of four main frame members that define the casement frame in which the glazing would be received and mounted. In known manner, the front reveal face 5 extends to the marginal peripheral outer edge of the casement which is defined by a flange extension 8 which would engage with the fixed frame of the window to conceal the rebate 4.

The drive transmission plate 7 is arranged, in known manner, to be moved longitudinally of the rebate 4 to actuate the hinge mechanisms, and mounted on the plate is an abutment 9 in the form of a hardened boss 10 secured to the plate 7 by a threaded fastener 11. This abutment 9 as shown is also -arranged to be a bolting member for engagement with a striker formation provided in the fixed frame (not shown). As will be understood, this abutment 9 will move with the drive transmission plate 7 on actuation of the tilt/turn system, and in one mode of the system when the casement is closed on the frame, then such bolting member engages in striker formation provided in the fixed frame. There is usually a plurality of these bolting members spaced apart on one of more sides of the casement frame.

Referring now to the first embodiment of the invented safety device shown in Figures 1 to 3, the device comprises a body 12 which is mounted on the front reveal face 5 of the casement member in the region of the flange extension 8 so that the body is in alignment with the rebate 4 extending behind the flange 8. The body mounts a release or actuator member 13 which is supported on the body 12 for pivotal movement by a pivot pin 14. The body 12 is formed with a pocket 15 into which a push button portion 16 of the member 13 is received with the pivot pin 14 extending transversely through the pocket to support and pivotally mount the member 13. The other portion of the actuator member 13 remote from the button portion 16 has two fork arms 17 with a clearance 18 therebetween.

A hollow spigot 19 extends from the underside face of the body 12 and in the assembled device as shown in Figures 1 and 2 this spigot extends in the clearance 18 extending between the fork arms 17 so as not to interfere with the pivotal movement of the fork arms.

The spigot 19 mounts and supports a shoot bolt assembly that comprises a spindle 20 having an external thread at one end and an internally threaded shoot 21 mounted thereon for axial adjustment by means of the threaded engagement. A cross slot 22 is provided for this purpose on the free end of the shoot 21. The other end of the spindle has a transverse bore 23 through which a pin 24 extends with a helical spring 25 being mounted on the spindle between the shoot 21 and an abutment shoulder at the inner end of the spigot 19.

The body 12 has a bore 26 to receive the inner end of the spindle 20 and the spigot has axial slits 27 through which the ends of the transverse pin 24 project. The extreme ends of each fork arm 17 engage a respective projecting end of the pin 24 on the side of the pin ends nearest to the shoot 21. By this arrangement, the spring force of the spring 25 acts on the shoot bolt assembly to urge it into the rebate 4 and maintains the actuating member 13 so that the push button portion 16 is forward of the pocket 15 as shown in Figure 1.

The body 12 also has an internally threaded bore 28 that opens to the underside of the body 12 and this bore 28 is to receive a threaded fixing screw 29.

As best seen from Figure 3, to mount the safety device on the casement member 1, an access opening 30 is provided opening to the rebate 4 and a pilot opening 31 is provided for the screw 29. These two openings through the casement member 1 may be selected and made at the desired positions relative to the rebate 4 and the relative position of the abutment 9 and a jig or template may be provided for this purpose.

The free end of the spigot 19 is received within the access opening 30 with the underside of the body 12 abutting against the front reveal face 5 of the casement member 1. The pilot opening 31 is aligned with the threaded bore 28, and the body 12 is fixed and secured to the casement member 1 by the fixing screw 29 which is screwed from the rebate 4 through the flange 8 and of which only the head will protrude into clearance within the rebate 4. The body 12 cannot twist or turn relative to the casement member due to the two-point location of the body, and the fixing screw is concealed from the front reveal face.

In fitting the safety device, the shoot 22 can be adjusted so that it projects into the rebate 4 a sufficient distance to engage the abutment 9 when the shoot is in the operative position as shown in Figure 1.

In the normal operative mode of the safety device, the shoot projects into the rebate 4 and is in engagement with the abutment 9, and this engagement prevents the drive transmission plate 7 from being moved longitudinally in the direction of the arrows of Figures 1 and 3. Thus whilst the safety device is in this operative mode, it is not possible for the tilt/turn system to be operated by the user to change from the tilt to the turn mode.

If the user desires to change from the tilt to the turn mode, then the safety device must be operated to retract the shoot 21 out of engagement with the abutment 9. The user has to depress the push button portion 16 of the actuation member, and such action then pivots the member 13 so that the fork arms 17 urge the spindle 20 against the spring 25 to retract the spindle into the spigot bore 26 and to withdraw the shoot 21 out of engagement with the abutment 9.

Figure 2 depicts the safety device in this retracted mode and whilst the device is so operated then the drive transmission for the tilt/turn system can be operated to change the mode of the system.

On release by the user of the push button portion 16, then under the action of the spring 25, the shoot 21 is restored to the operative position and the device is automatically reverted for actuation when next required by the user.

Turning now to Figure 4 there is shown a second embodiment of the invented safety device in which like reference numerals in the 100 series are used to indicate parts of the device corresponding to the first embodiment above-described. The construction and operation of this second embodiment is generally similar to the first embodiment and for convenience only the differences from the first embodiment will be referred to in the following description, it being understood that in other respects the construction and operation of the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.

In this second embodiment, the body 112 has a countersunk through bore 128 and is secured to the front reveal face of the casement 5 by a fixing screw 129 inserted through the bore 128 and pilot opening 31 in the casement member to engage a retainer block 150 received in the rebate 4. With this alternative fixing arrangement, the head of the screw 129 is not accessible within the rebate thereby precluding release of the screw from the outside of the casement to remove the security device.

Also in this second embodiment, the spigot 119 is of reduced length received in the inner end of access opening 30 in the casement member with the shoot 121 being of hexagonal external cross-section received in the outer end of access opening 30 which is of complementary cross-section to preclude rotation of the shoot 121 relative to the spindle 120. With this alternative mounting arrangement, the shoot 121 can be axially adjusted on installation of the security device by rotation of the shoot 121 relative to the spindle 120 through the threaded engagement thereof to provide the required projection of the shoot 121 into the rebate 4 for co-operating with the abutment 9 of the drive transmission in the operative position of the device as shown but is retained against rotation when installed by engagement in the complementary noncircular outer end of the access opening 30. As a result, the shoot 121 cannot be removed or tampered with from the outside of the casement to release the security device.

As should now be understood from the description of two exemplary embodiments of the invented safety device, if it is desired by the user to operate the tilt/turn system so that the drive transmission plate is moved in the sense opposed to that shown in the arrows, the shoot 21 or 121 will extend into the rebate 4 on the other side of the abutment 9, and the interfering engagement of the abutment. with the shoot will preclude movement of the drive plate until the shoot is retracted by operating the safety device in the same manner as just described.

The safety device is simple to install and fit to a wide range of existing types of tilt/turn systems and various designs and sizes of casements, and no mechanical or other coupling or connection is required to the actual tilt and turn system per se. Thus, the operation of the tilt/turn system can be controlled indirectly to prevent inadvertent or abusive use of the system operator handle by the fitting of this safety device.

The safety device is easy to operate and because it is face fixed to the casement, the user does not have to reach into the rebate as is the case with some other control or safety release devices.

The shape and configuration of the body of the device depicted in the exemplary embodiments can be varied for aesthetic or styling considerations, for instance to suit suite designed hardware fittings. The arrangement for fixing the body to the casement member can be varied or changed, and for casement members of plastics such as UPVC or co-extruded UPVC/metal sections other types of fixing means may be provided.

The shoot may have a non-circular external crosssection other than hexagonal as shown and described in the second embodiment, for example square or oval.

In tilt/turn systems where there is no suitable existing abutment mounted on the drive transmission, then a simple form of block with a secure fitting or clamp mounting can be provided to be assembled to the drive transmission whether this be of plate or rod or other form as commonly used.

Other design and details variations can be applied to the invented device within the scope of this invention and without detracting from the technical and practical advantages referred to hereinbefore.

Claims (18)

Claims;

1. A safety catch device in or for a window having a fixed frame and a tilt and turn system mounting a casement for selected hinged movement relative to the frame, the device comprising a body adapted for mounting to the front reveal face of a casement member, the body mounting a spring-loaded shoot bolt arranged to project through an access aperture opening into a rebate extending behind the reveal face and in which the drive transmission of the tilt/turn system extends for longitudinal movement relative to the casement member, an abutment on the drive transmission arranged for engagement with the shoot bolt when in the safety mode projecting into the rebate to prevent movement of the drive transmission in one sense, and the body mounting an operable release member arranged to act on the shoot bolt to retract the bolt out of engagement with the abutment on the drive transmission so that longitudinal movement of the drive transmission in said one sense is enabled.

2. A safety catch device according to Claim 1 wherein the operable release member is pivotally mounted and coupled to the spring-loaded shoot bolt and includes push button portion so that on applying a force to the button portion of the member, the bolt is retracted from an operative position against the spring force into an inoperative position clear of the abutment on the drive transmission.

3. A safety catch device according to Claim 2 wherein the shoot bolt has a transverse pin mounted through the inner end and this is engaged by a forked end of the operable release member remote from the pivot support and the button portion so that on actuation, the forked end acts on the shoot bolt to retract it out of the operative position against the spring force whilst the spring force acts as a return spring to move the shoot bolt back into the operative position once pressure on the push button portion is released.

4. A safety catch device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the spring force is provided by a spring encircling the shoot bolt and arranged to bias the shoot bolt into the rebate.

5. A safety catch device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the shoot bolt comprises a spindle on which there is mounted for relative axial adjustment a shoot whereby the projected distance of the shoot bolt into the rebate to engage the abutment may be adjusted.

6. A safety catch device according to Claim 5 wherein the axial adjustment of the shoot is provided by threaded engagement of the shoot and spindle.

7. A safety catch device according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the shoot is adapted to be retained against axial adjustment relative to the spindle when the device is mounted on the casement member.

8. A safety catch device according to Claim 7 wherein the shoot is of non-circular external cross-section such as hexagonal for reception in a complementary portion of the access aperture.

9. A safety catch device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the body is adapted for face fixing to the casement member through an opening in the member by means of a threaded fastener.

10. A safety catch device according to Claim 9 wherein the threaded fastener is arranged to be inserted from the rebate and engage in a threaded bore provided in the body opening to the underside of the body.

11. A safety catch device according to Claim 9 wherein the threaded fastener is arranged to be inserted through the body from the front reveal face and engage in a threaded bore provided in a retainer block received in the rebate.

12. A safety catch device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the body includes a projecting hollow spigot that is received in the access aperture and is adapted to support the shoot bolt for sliding movement.

13. A safety catch according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the abutment comprises a boss or the like arranged on the drive transmission for cooperating with the shoot bolt.

14. A safety catch device according to Claim 13 wherein the boss comprises a bolting member for engagement with striker means on the fixed frame when the system is in the closed locked mode.

15. A safety catch device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the engagement of the shoot bolt with the abutment is arranged to permit selection of the tilt mode of operation but prevent selection of the turn mode of operation.

16. A safety catch device in or for a window having a fixed frame and a tilt and turn system mounting a casement for selected hinged movement relative to the frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A safety catch device in or for a window having a fixed frame and a tilt and turn system mounting a casement for selected hinged movement relative to the frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A window having a fixed frame and a tilt and turn system mounting a casement for selected hinged movement relative to the frame including a safety catch device according to any one of the preceding Claims mounted on the casement for co-operating with drive transmission means of the tilt and turn system to control selectively the operation of the system.