GB2247490A

GB2247490A - Securement means for window frames during transit

Info

Publication number: GB2247490A
Application number: GB9118341A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gregory Head; William Berry
Original assignee: HIS Ltd
Current assignee: HIS Ltd
Priority date: 1990-09-03
Filing date: 1991-08-27
Publication date: 1992-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-27
Also published as: GB9118341D0; GB2247490B

Abstract

A device for mounting a lever handle 53 on a vent or casement window frame 50 and for temporarily holding the window closed in a fixed window frame 60 prior to mounting the handle, comprises means 51, 52 adapted to pivotally mount a lever handle 53 on the vent or casement window frame, and severable means 56 joining a base portion 51 of the mounting to a wedge device 54; the wedge device being adapted to progressively engage a spur 77 of the handle when, with the handle fitted, the handle is pivoted on its mounting to a closed position. The arrangement is such that, with the base portion 51 of the mounting secured to the vent or casement window frame 50 and the wedge device 54 secured to the fixed window frame 60. the vent or casement window is temporarily held closed and is released for opening and closing movement by severing the joining means 57. Thus, the handle is not mounted during transit and so does not endanger adjacent windows in a stack. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO HANDLE MOUNTING ASSEMBLIES FOR WINDOW FRAMES When transporting pre-assembled uPVC profile window frames from a manufacturer to the point of installation, it is desirable that the frames should be loaded side-by-side.

A problem which then arises is that vent frames which include a handle for retaining the window shut can clash with one another causing damage and the possible need for replacement on site. On way to overcome this problem would be to fit the handle on site, but some means must then be provided for temporarily holding the window shut during transit.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for mounting a lever handle on a vent or casement window frame and for temporarily holding the window closed in a fixed window frame prior to mounting the handle, the device comprising means adapted to pivotally mount a lever handle on the vent or casement window frame, and severable means joining a base portion of the mounting to a wedge device; the wedge device being adapted to progressively engage a spur of the handle when, with the handle fitted, the handle is pivoted on its mounting to a closed position, and the arrangement being such that, with the base portion of the mounting means secured to the vent or casement window frame and the wedge device secured to the fixed window frame, the vent window is temporarily held closed and is released for opening and closing movement by severing the joining means.

In a preferred embodiment, the base portion of the mounting is engageable with a cover portion, and the joining means comprises a severable joining strip. The base portion may include a removable insert, and in this case the insert, joining strip and wedge device are preferably injection moulded in one piece.

One advantage of an arrangement embodying the invention is that it allows jig drilling of the base portion of the mounting and of the frame members, the base portion of the mounting then being secured to the vent frame while the wedge device is secured to the fixed frame member.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany~ng drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment and shows a base portion of a handle mounting unit, a joining strip and a wedge for holding a vent or casement window closed during transit prior to mounting a handle, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view from one end of the assembly, Fig. 4 is a view from the other end of the assembly, Fig. 5 is a plan view of a cover portion of the handle mounting unit, Fig. 6 is a section on line A-A in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a section on line B-B in Fig. 5, Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the invention Fig. 9 is a plan view of the insert, joining strip and wedge shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through the handle mounting unit shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the insert, and Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the base portion of the handle mounting unit shown in Fig. 8.

Referring first to the embodiments of Figs. 1-7, a base portion 10 of a handle mounting unit is joined to a wedge 12 by a strip 11. The base 10, joining strip 11 and wedge 12 are injection moulded in one piece. The window frame (not shown) consists of extruded uPVC hollow profile frame members, and includes a vent frame which can be opened and closed.

The base 10 for the handle mounting unit is first screwed to the vent frame using the fixing holes 13, while the wedge 12 is snapped into the adjacent mullion or transom of the fixed frame using a pair of studs 15 projecting from the rear face of the wedge which are forced into holes of slightly smaller diameter drilled in the mullion or transom of the fixed frame.

Once this has been achieved, the joining strip 11 is strong enough to hold the window closed during transit, but is easily severed by a downward shearing action at the points A and B when the window is on site.

Once the windows have been delivered and installed, the cover portion 16 (Figs. 5-7) of the handle mounting unit is snapped on to the base portion 10 with the ribs 17 interlocking with the grooves 14. As the cover 16 snaps down over the base 12, the inside edge of one of the downturned side walls 20 of the cover applies the necessary shearing force to sever the connection at point B so that the window is freed for normal operation.

The cover 16 includes a central boss 18 about which the lever handle (not shown) is rotated for co-operation with the wedge 12 in a conventional manner.

Referring next to the embodiment of Figs. 8-12, there is shown a Cockspur handle 53 for closing a vent window frame 50 against a fixed frame 60.

The handle 53 rotates about a mounting unit 51, 52 having a base portion 51 secured to the vent frame 50. The frames 50, 60 are pre-assembled uPVC frames which are delivered to the site of a building without the handle 53 being fitted.

During transit, the window is held closed by a severable link 57 between a wedge stop 54 secured to the fixed frame 60 and an insert 56 snap-fitted in the base portion 51 of the mounting unit 51, 52.

The base portion 51 (Fig. 12) comprises a base plate 58 and a platform 59 offset toward one end of the base plate. The base plate 58 is secured to the frame by screws or rivets 70 (Fig. 1) passing through three longitudinally spaced holes 62.

The top surface of the platform 59 is recessed at 71 to receive an insert 56 shown enlarged in Fig. 11. The insert 56 has downwardly projecting pins 81 which snap-fit in holes 61 formed in the platform 59.

The top surface of the insert 56 includes a series- of serrations 69 which co-operate with corresponding serrations 67 in the interior roof surface of an elongate generally dome-shaped cover portion 52 (Fig. 10) of the mounting unit 51, 52, the serrations 67,69 forming a ratchet mechanism.

The cover 52 comprises a housing 63 with a top wall 72, a pair of opposed side walls 73, and opposed end walls 74a,74b. The top wall 72 has two holes 64,66, the hole 64 passing through the top wall, and the hole 66 receiving a locking pin 75 to prevent rotation of the handle when the pin is depressed against a spring bias and locked. The handle 53 is retained against the cover 52 by a pivot pin (not shown) passing through the hole 64 and swaged over in the cavity 83. The pivot pin is an interference fit in the handle 53 and is further secured by a roll pin (not shown) through its diameter.

Projecting inwardly from the side walls 73 are three longitudinally spaced lugs 68 which slidably locate beneath overhanging portions 76 of the platform 59 when the cover 52 is slidably interlocked with the base 51.

In use, with the cover 52 interlocked with the base 51, the handle 53 can be turned to bring the spur 77 into engagement with the wedge 54 so that the wedge is progressively inserted beneath the spur to secure the window.

Before despatching a window for installation, the original manufacturer will drill fixing holes in the frames 50,60 using a jig. The base 51 is then riveted or screwed to the vent frame 50, and the wedge 54 is snapped into position on the outer frame 60 by means of locating pins 78 beneath the wedge 54. The insert 56 joined to the wedge 54 by the joining strip 57 is then snap-fitted into the platform 59 of the base 51. This retains the window shut during transit to the site where the window is to be installed.

The insert/joining strip 56,57 can be unclipped from the base 51 to permit inspection of the window before and/or after transporting the window to the site.

At the site, the joining strip 57 is severed along the joint lines 80, 82 (Fig. 9) and removed. The cover 52 is then engaged with the base 51. This is achieved by initially positioning the inside surface of the end wall 74a of the cover so that it abuts the left hand end of the platform 59 (as viewed in Fig. 12), and then sliding the cover 52 to the left. During this sliding motion, the serrations 67 on the inside surface of the cover 52 slide over the serrations 69, the serrations 67,69 then cooperating to prevent return movement of the cover in the opposite direction. At the same time, the lugs 68 at the base of the cover housing 63 slide beneath the overhanging portions 76 (Fig. 8) of the platform 59 and thereby prevent the cover 52 being lifted off the base 51. When the inside surface of the end wall 74b eventually abuts the right hand end of the platform 59 (as viewed in Fig. 12), the cover 52 is fully engaged with the base 51 and no further movement of the cover 52 is possible in any direction. The handle 53 can then be operated to open and close the window.

Claims

1. A device for mounting a lever handle on a vent or casement window frame and for temporarily holding the window closed in a fixed window frame prior to mounting the handle, the device comprising means adapted to pivotally mount a lever handle on the vent or casement window frame, and severable means joining a base portion of the mounting to a wedge device; the wedge device being adapted to progressively engage a spur of the handle when, with the handle fitted, the handle is pivoted on its mounting to a closed position, and the arrangement being such that, with the base portion of the mounting secured to the vent or casement window frame and the wedge device secured to the fixed window frame, the vent or casement window is temporarily held closed and is released for opening and closing movement by severing the joining means.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the base portion of the mounting is engageable with a cover portion to form a handle mounting unit.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the base portion includes a removable insert joined to the wedge by the joining means.

4. A device according to claim 3 in which the joining means comprises a joining strip.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which the insert, joining strip and wedge device are injection moulded in one piece.

6. A device according to claim 2 in which the cover portion engages the base portion in such a manner that return movement of the cover portion to a non-engaged position is prevented.

7. A device according to claim 6 in which the cover portion is snap-fitted on the base portion.

8. A device according to claim 7 in which the joining means is severed in response to the snap-fitting.

9. A device according to claim 6 in which return movement of the cover is prevented by a ratchet mechanism.

10. A device substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A device substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 8-12 of the accompanying drawings.

AM ENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS H AVE BEEN FLED AS FOLLOWS.

position is prevented.

12. A vent or casement window comprising a first window frame movable between an open position and a closed position relative to a second fixed frame, the first frame being temporarily held in its closed position by a severable joining strip between the two frames, and the end of the joining strip attached to the fixed frame including a wedge formation for progressively engaging the closure member of a lever handle mounted on the movable frame.

13. A vent or casement window according to claim 12 wherein the other end of the joining strip attached to the movable frame is attached to, or forms an integral part of, the mounting for the lever handle.

14. A vent or casement window according to claim 13 in which the said other end of the joining strip forms an insert in a recessed portion of the mounting.