GB2228527A - Fastening mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The fastening mechanism for a sliding panel e.g. a patio door, window has the head of at least one stud automatically trapped in a keyhole slot by actuation of an element 15 during final closing movement of the panel. As shown, the mechanism comprises a lock 1 with a pair of slides 13 formed with respective "keyhole" slots 16 for trapping the heads of fixed studs 10. The slides 13 are biased by springs 14 normally to align the narrower ends of their "keyhole" slots 16 with the studs 10. As the panel is closed, however, a probe 18 on an actuating plate 15 is pressed in to slide the plate rearwards and thereby cam the slides 13 apart, permitting entry of the stud heads through the slots 16. During the final closing movement of the door, the slides 13 are released to spring together once more and thereby trap the studs 10 in their slots 16 (Fig 4). To release the studs from the slots there is another, manually-operable plate 23 for camming the slides 13 apart A key-operable cylinder 29 is provided for blocking the plate 23 and thereby locking the mechanism against release (Figs 6 and 7). In an alternative arrangement (Fig 8) the studs are carried by the slides in the lock while the "keyhole" slots are formed in a fixed keeper plate. <IMAGE>

Description

Fastening Mechanism The present invention relates to fastening mechanisms which may in particular be used for fastening sliding doors or windows.

A form of fastening mechanism which is commonly used on so-called patio doors and the like sliding closures comprises a series of headed studs and corresponding keeper members with "keyhole" slots through the wider ends of which the respective studs can pass when the door is slid closed, the stud heads then being trapped in the keeper members to hold the door closed when the necks of the studs pass into the narrower ends of the "keyhole" slots by operation of an associated driving means. The studs can be mounted to the door together with a mechanism for driving them parallel to the door edge, with the "keyhole" slots being provided in fixed keepers mounted to or formed in an associated frame. Alternatively, the studs can be fixed and a keeper member bearing the slots is mounted to the door together with a suitable driving mechanism.A similar arrangement of relatively-movable studs and slots can also be provided along the respective mating edges of double sliding doors. Examples of prior art fasteners of this general kind are disclosed in published United Kingdom patent applications nos. 2092659, 2118611, 2124291, 2124692, 2127087 and 2172650.

In the above-mentioned known "keyhole" slot fastening mechanisms the movement of the studs or slots into their locking position is achieved by manual operation of a driving mechanism after the door or other closure has been slid fully closed. An aim of the present invention, however, is to provide a mechanism of the same general character but which is operated automatically on slamclosing of the door or the like.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention resides in a mechanism for fastening a sliding panel to an adjacent structure comprising a first unit having at least one headed stud and a second unit having a keeper member defining at least one "keyhole" slot for said stud; the first and second units being adapted for mounting at the respective mating edges of said panel and structure or vice versa; one of said stud or keeper member being mounted in fixed relationship to its respective unit while the other of said stud or keeper member is mounted to its respective unit for sliding movement parallel to the respective said edge; the unit which comprises said movable stud or keeper member further comprising an actuating element which is adapted to be actuated by abutment with the other unit during the final closing movement of the panel whereby to cause movement of said stud or keeper member from a position in which the stud and the wider end of the slot are in alignment to a position in which the stud and the narrower end of the slot are in alignment, thereby trapping the stud in the keeper member.

In one embodiment the movable stud or keeper member is normally biased towards the position in which the stud and the narrower end of the slot are in alignment and said actuating element is actuated by abutment with the other said unit as the panel approaches its closed position to shift the movable stud or keeper member against its bias into a position in which the stud and the wider end of the slot are in alignment to permit the head of the stud to pass through the slot, further actuation of the actuating element during the final closing movement of the panel permitting the movable stud or keeper member to return under its bias to the position in which the stud and the narrower end of the slot are in alignment, thereby trapping the stud as aforesaid.

These and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, presented by way of example, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section (on the section line shown in Figure 2) through a mechanism in accordance with the invention, in its unfastened condition; Figure 2 is a front view of the lock shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a part section through the mechanism of Figure 1 during fastening; Figure 4 is a part section through the mechanism of Figure 1 in its fastened condition; Figure 5 is a part section through the mechanism of Figure 1 during unfastening; Figure 6 is a part section through the mechanism of Figure 1 showing an additional locking slide; Figure 7 is a front view of the locking slide of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a part section through a variant of the mechanism of Figure 1.

Referring to figure 1, the illustrated mechanism comprises a lock 1 shown mounted mortice-wise into the hollow stile section 2 of a sliding aluminium patio door or the like, and a cooperating stud assembly 3 mounted to the mating edge of the door frame 4. The lock 1 has a case 5 and forend 6 through which it is fastened to the door by screws 7. The stud assembly 3 comprises a plate 8 fastened to the frame 4 by screws 9 and carrying two headed studs 10 which project towards the door stile 2.

The studs 10 are conveniently screw-threaded into tapped blocks 11 carried by the plate 8 in order to permit some adjustment of their projection from the plate to suit particular installations.

The forend 6 of the lock has two circular apertures 12 aligned with respective studs 10 and sized to permit entry of the stud heads when the door is closed. Within the lock case there are two slides 13 formed from respective aluminium castings or plastics (e.g. nylon) mouldings and borne for limited sliding movement in the vertical sense as illustrated, i.e. parallel to the forend 6. Each slide 13 is biased by a respective spring 14 to press inwards against a central actuating plate 15. A "keyhole" slot 16 is formed in the front wall of each slide 13 which lies behind the forend 6, in the at-rest condition of Figure 1 the narrower ends of the slots 16 being aligned with the forend apertures 12 and the studs 10 (see also Figure 2).

The above-mentioned actuating plate 15 is biased by a spring 17 towards the forend 6 and carries a probe 18 extending out through the forend towards the fixed plate 8. It will be seen that the actuating plate 15 has a pair of ramp surfaces 19 where it engages the slides 13, rising to short horizontal surfaces 20. Likewise the slides 13 have respective ramp surfaces 21 rising to short horizontal surfaces 22. The tendency of rearward travel of the actuating plate 15 is therefore to press the slides 13 apart.

The operation of the illustrated mechanism to fasten the door to the frame 4 when closed will now be described.

As the door approaches its closed position, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, the end of the probe 18 encounters the plate 8 and continued movement of the door accordingly presses the probe 18 and actuating plate 15 rearwards relative to the lock case, against the bias of the spring 17. By virtue of the camming action of the cooperating ramp surfaces 19, 21 of the plate 15 and slides 13, therefore, the slides are pressed apart by the plate until, at the peaks of the ramps, the slides have been shifted sufficiently to place the wider ends of their "keyhole" slots 16 into alignment with the forend apertures 12 and studs 10. At the end of this camming action the horizontal surfaces 20, 22 of the actuating plate and slides come into register and this condition is illustrated in Figure 3.This provides a short dwell period with the slides 13 at the top of their travel during which the heads of the studs 10 pass through their "keyhole" slots 16. Then, during the final closing movement of the door, and as shown in figure 4, further movement of the actuating plate 15 into its rearmost position causes it to release the slide surfaces 22, thereby permitting the slides to spring back to their initial positions and place the narrower ends of their slots 16 over the necks of the studs 10. The studs 10 are accordingly now trapped in the slides 13 preventing withdrawal of the door away from the frame 4.

In order to unfasten the door a second actuating plate 23 is provided in the lock case, borne in parallel to the plate 15. This second plate has ramp surfaces 24 similar to those (19) of the plate 15 but leading to extended horizontal surfaces 25. During the automatic locking action of the mechanism as described above the plate 23 plays no part but remains in position adjacent to the forend 6. This plate has a socket 26 within which it receives an operating member from an associated handle (not shown) of e.g. trigger, squeeze grip or lever action, the manual operation of which is effective to draw the plate 23 rearwardly when it is desired to open the door.

This action therefore cams the slides 13 apart again, through the cooperating ramp surfaces 24, 21, and the slides remain apart when the plate 23 reaches its rearward position, as shown in Figure 5, being held on the extended horizontal surfaces 25 of that plate. In this position the wider ends of the "keyhole" slots 16 are realigned with the forend apertures 12 and studs 10. Consequently, pressure on the door in the opening direction (being also the direction of sliding movement of the plate 23), now enables it to slide open, with the stud heads withdrawing from the lock through the slots/apertures 16/12.When the door handle is released, the two actuating plates 15 and 23 are permitted to slide forwards under the bias of spring 17 - the plates being linked in this respect by means of a transverse lug 27 on plate 23 engaging in a cut-out 28 in plate 15 - thereby releasing the slides 13 once more and returning the whole mechanism to the Figure 1 condition.

The illustrated mechanism also has provision for key locking in the fastening position if desired. To this end a conventional profile locking cylinder is received through the lock case where indicated at 29 and fastened with a screw 30. As more clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7 there is associated with this cylinder a locking slide 31 which can be shifted between upper and lower (as viewed) positions according to the direction of turning a proper key in the cylinder 29, the follower (not shown) of the cylinder describing the locus indicated at 29A to drive the slide 31 through engagement in an aperture 32 thereof. In its upper position the slide 31 does not interfere with the unfastening of the door as described above.When the door is fastened and the key is turned to drive the slide 31 downwards, however, its lower end is placed in the rearward path of the actuating plate 23 and thereby blocks the unfastening action of the mechanism.

This condition is shown in Figure 6 (wherein part of the plate 15 is cut away to reveal the end of the slide 31).

The slide 31 is indexed in its two positions by means of a transverse pip 33 entering one or other of two indentations 34 formed in the slide 13.

Figure 8 shows a variant of the mechanism which operates similarly to that described above with reference to Figures 1 to 6, but where headed studs 10' are carried by slides 13' for cooperation with fixed-position "keyhole" slots 16' formed in a keeper plate 8'. In other respects the construction and operation of this embodiment is equivalent to that above and description will accordingly not be repeated herein.

Claims (8)

1. A mechanism for fastening a sliding panel to an adjacent structure comprising a first unit having at least one headed stud and a second unit having a keeper member defining at least one "keyhole" slot for said stud; the first and second units being adapted for mounting at the respective mating edges of said panel and structure or vice versa; one of said stud or keeper member being mounted in fixed relationship to its respective unit while the other of said stud or keeper member is mounted to its respective unit for sliding movement parallel to the respective said edge; the unit which comprises said movable stud or keeper member further comprising an actuating element which is adapted to be actuated by abutment with the other unit during the final closing movement of the panel whereby to cause movement of said stud or keeper member from a position in which the stud and the wider end of the slot are in alignment to a position in which the stud and the narrower end of the slot are in alignment, thereby trapping the stud in the keeper member.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the movable stud or keeper member is normally biased towards the position in which the stud and the narrower end of the slot are in alignment and said actuating element is actuated by abutment with the other said unit as the panel approaches its closed position to shift the movable stud or keeper member against its bias into a position in which the stud and the wider end of the slot are in alignment to permit the head of the stud to pass throught the slot, further actuation of the actuating element during the final closing movement of the panel permitting the movable stud or keeper member to return under its bias to the position in which the stud and the narrower end of the slot are in alignment, thereby trapping the stud as aforesaid.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the actuating element is borne by the respective unit for sliding movement generally perpendicularly to the movable stud or keeper member and is biased towards a forward position in that unit, the actuating element is configured to cam the movable stud or keeper member to the position in which the stud and the wider end of the slot are in alignment as that element is initially slid rearwardly against its bias, and the actuating element is configured to release the movable stud or keeper member to return to the position in which the stud and the narrower end of the slot are in alignment as that element is slid further rearwardly against its bias.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3 comprising a manually-operable element borne for sliding movement in parallel with said actuating element and configured to cam the movable stud or keeper member to the position in which the stud and the wider end of the slot are in alignment to permit withdrawal of the stud from the keeper member, when the said actuating element is in its said further rearward position.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4 further comprising means under the control of a key-operable mechanism for blocking said sliding movement of said manually-operable element thereby to lock the mechanism with the stud trapped in the keeper member.

6. A mechanism according to any one of claims 3, 4 or 5 wherein there are two such movable studs or keepers in the respective unit and said actuating element and any said manually-operable element are borne between the same and configured to cam the same in opposite senses of direction parallel to the respective said edge.

7. A mechanism for fastening a sliding panel to an adjacent structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, Figures 6 and 7 or Figure

8.