GB2258008A - Left or right handed cockspur/espagnolette/cremone handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A catch 111, 112 and handle 114 unit, particularly for a sash window, in which the handle has a pivotable mounting and the catch is adjustable in position relative to the handle. The catch is thus non-handed, and embodiments show the pivotable mounting having a recess for receiving a rotatable driver for a second securement means such as a cremone or espagnolette. The catch is suitably a cockspur 111, 112 for a sash window, fitable behind a striker plate (not shown). The catch or cockspur may have recesses 122a-d into which a protrusion or protrusions 126a on the handle can fit in two 180 DEG spaced positions, thus transporting drive from handle to cockspur in a left or right handed orientation. <IMAGE>

Description

PIVOTABLE CATCH AND HANDLE UNIT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pivotable catch and handle unit, and in particular to a pivotable catch and handle unit with a (pivotable) mounting for the handle for use in holding an openable window or door in a required condition, typically to hold a hingedly mounted window or door in a closed or partially open (vented) condition.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION A typical catch with a pivotable mounting for the handle is shown in Fig.l and comprises a cockspur blade, often known simply as a "cockspur", and an integral handle providing a combination unit for mounting on a window or door; when the cockspur is rotated by way of its handle it can fit behind a retention member such as a metal plate fixed to the frame for the window, or within a U-shaped retention member recessed into the frame. In an alternative arrangement, the cockspur is mounted on the frame, and a channel-shaped catch member can pivot with the handle into and out of engagement with the cockspur. In a further alternative embodiment the catch is an espagnolette.

Many windows are side-mounted, and since rotation to bring the pivotable catch towards the condition to hold the window closed traditionally has a downward component, the appropriate pivotable catch has traditionally been "handed" i.e. one "hand" for a left-mounted window with a right-hand securement, and another "hand" for a right-mounted window with a left-hand securement.

The need to provide and stock "handed" pivotable hand and catch units has for many years complicated the problems of the manufacturer, and has led also to additional expense for the window assembler who needs to keep stocks of both "hands" in anticipation of orders. These problems are compounded by the promotion of proprietary handle shapes as an aesthetic feature, particularly for the more expensive multi-glazed sash windows, often leading to variety of handles being used for one shape of catch e.g. cockspur.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION The applicant seeks to reduce or avoid these problems by the provision of a pivotable catch and handle unit, for instance a cockspur and handle unit characterised in that the handle and catch are mounted for permitted relative movement. Alternatively stated, the handle and catch e.g. cockspur, are no longer integrally formed, so that the handle of the invention can be set relative to the cockspur for either "hand". Thus the catch is adjustable in position relative to the handle.

Preferably the catch has first and second adjusted positions angularly spaced by 180 degrees. Usefully the catch has a pair of recesses and the handle has a projection, engagement of the projection in one of the recesses defining a first adjusted position of the catch, engagement of the projection in the other of the recesses defining a second adjusted position of the catch.

We also disclose a modified striker plate, a fixed (window) frame fitted with the improved striker plate, and a sash window fitted with the improved catch and handle unit.

It is an advantage of the invention that a catch and handle can be "handed" prior to or during window assembly. It is a further advantage that the catch and handle can be "handed" by the window assembler as well as the manufacturer(s) of the catch and handle components. It is yet a further advantage that the manufacturer need make only one design of catch, perhaps to be fitted to various designs of handle. It is another advantage that the manufacturer of a faulty catch or handle does not require the whole unit to be scrapped, since each component can be re-used separately.

Preferably the "hand" will be set by the window assembler when fulfilling an order from a window fitter, but alternatively can be set during fitting by the window fitter, as when replacing a sash or opening window.

I disclose an arrangement wherein the catch is set to its indexed condition prior to the catch and handle unit being mounted on the sash, and an arrangement wherein the catch is set to its indexed condition upon the catch being mounted and tightened on the sash. With the first mentioned embodiment the unit will normally be "handed" to its required indexed condition by the unit manufacturer to the orders of the sash assembler, whilst with the second mentioned embodiment the unit is despatched by the unit manufacturer to the window assembler with a gap between the handle and catch, this gap reducing upon the unit being screwed to the sash until the catch and handle interengage at the required indexed condition, with therefore the unit being "handed" by the sash assembler.

In a preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned first arrangement, the user e.g. the householder, cannot reset the handle relative to the catch without special tools or equipment.

In the second arrangement the user cannot reset the handle relative to the catch without at least partial removal of the unit from the sash. Thus the mounted arrangement of catch to handle is not alterable during normal use.

Whilst a cockspur is traditionally used to prevent window or door opening perpendicular to itself, I also disclose an improved security version which can be used to prevent window opening parallel to itself (as for a sliding window), or more generally as by an unlawful intruder seeking to release the window from the cockspur; thus the cockspur is provided with a nose, the nose being rotatable to provide a continuously replaced engagement surface. A particular advantage of the rotatable nose is that the catch can be used help draw a sliding e.g patio, window towards the fully closed condition, particularly if the striking plate is convex.

I also disclose an improved method and apparatus for the fitting of the keeper to a frame of hollow profile section. Thus I provide a keeper assembly for securement to a frame wall comprising a keeper unit and an expansion part, the keeper unit having a hollow projection with a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the keeper unit and being part of a first section of a length at least equal to the thickness of the wall, a second section of the hollow projection being joined to the first section and being split from its free end to expand outwardly when the expansion part is fitted within the hollow projection.

Preferably the second section has opposed protrubrances of cross-section greater than that of the first section, so that they can expand behind and perhaps engage at spaced positions the surface around an opening in the wall sized to receive the hollow projection. Usefully the expansion part will include at least two interconnected projections, each adapted to expand a separate hollow extension of the keeper unit; thus if the interconnection is a combined cover plate for a pair of keepers, it is prevented from rotation relative to the wall. The interconnection can have a flange engageable with a cockspur security nose, preferably a rotatable security nose, and may have a portion of arcuate shape to avoid cockspur retention movement being inhibited.

The expansion part can be fitted by pressure, as by impacts from a hammer, and so can be fitted to the keeper unit(s) (and thus the keeper assembly can be mounted to the wall) by a method not requiring adhesive or an internally tapped wall opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which : Fig.l is a perspective view of a known catch and handle comprising a bladed cockspur and integral handle; Fig.2 is a general arrangement of one embodiment of cockspur unit according to the invention; Fig.3 is a scrap view of a cockspur recess, with in dotted outline a handle projection therein; Fig.4 is a plan view of a security cockspur blade suitable for use in the invention; Fig.5 is a view on the line V-V of Fig.4; Fig.6 is a side sectional view of a cockspur handle suitable for use in the invention; Fig.7 is of an embodiment similar to that of Fig.2 but with non-integral projections, and a handle lock;; Fig.8 is a general arrangement of an alternative embodiment of cockspur unit, with also an espagnolette drive bar; Fig.9 is a side view of a clamping unit for use in the embodiment of Fig.8; Fig.l0 is a plan view of part of a catch and handle unit; Fig.ll is of a modified security cockspur, with rotatable security nose; Fig.l2 is an side view of the cockspur of Fig. 11; Fig.l3 is of another embodiment of security cockspur; Fig.l4 is a general arrangement of a security cockspur mounted on a sash; Fig.15 is a general arrangement of a handle operating both a security cockspur and an espagnolette drive; Fig.16 is a side view of a keeper assembly; Fig.l7 is a plan view of an expansion part of the keeper assembly of Fig.l6; and Fig.l8 is a view of the second arrangement of Fig.8, in the "transport" condition, prior to indexing.

Fig. 19 is a view of an alternative embodiment to that of Fig.18, Fig.20 is of an alternative arrangement to that of Fig.l; Fig.21 is of the modified combined pivot and coupling means used in the arrangement of Fig.20; and Fig.22 is a view from below of the Fig.21 component.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS The invention will first be described in relation to a unit suitable for fitting to a sash (opening window), for which application it is likely to find most use.

As can be seen from Fig.l, known cockspur unit 10 comprises cockspur blade 12 and integral cockspur handle 14, in this embodiment manufactured as a cast unit. Subsequent to casting, a through-hole is drilled to receive spigot 16, which acts as the pivot for the blade/handle combination. The blade 12 is adapted to fit behind a raised abutment 19, typically a metal striking plate screwed to a window frame so that when engaged the (opening) window or sash is held against opening movement; the frame may also have a second abutment which when suitably engaged by the cockspur holds the sash in a partly open (vent) condition.

Spigot 16 projects perpendicularly to the plane of the cockspur blade 12, and is designed to permit the cockspur unit 10 to be attached to a sash frame so as to be secure from removal, but also so that the unit 10 may be pivoted (typically through 90 degrees about the spigot 16) to rotate the blade 12 from its retention position behind the plate 19 whereby the window or door can be opened. In an alternative embodiment, spigot 16 may be lockable, to prevent unwanted or unauthorised pivoting. The leading edge of the cockspur blade 12 may include a tapered lead-in 18 to assist closure movement of the blade behind the plate 19.

Fig.2 is of a catch and handle unit according to one embodiment of the invention, the catch being a cockspur blade 112. Blade 112 and handle 114 are no longer integral; specifically the catch can be indexed relative to the handle, usually between a left-hand and a right-hand operative condition, but alternatively at additional (intermediate) conditions.

As can be seen more particularly in Fig.4, the blade mating face 120 has four recesses 122a,122b, 122c,122d. The associated handle mating face 124 has corresponding projections and of these the projections 126a,126d and 126c are indicated in Fig.6. It will be understood that the recesses 122a,122c are alternately used to receive respective projections 126a, 126c, for "handed" mounting, and that the additional recesses and projections are for added strength (to accommodate rotational torque).In this embodiment all the recesses and projections are equidistant from respective apertures 127 (Fig.4) and 128 (Fig.2) adapted to receive the combined pivot and coupling means 130 (Fig.2) or 230 (Fig.9), but in an alternative embodiment whilst matched pairs of recesses 122a,l22c (used alternately to receive a particular projection) are used with recesses 122a,122c being of equal size, those of another pair e.g. 122b,122d (Fig.4) are differently sized and/or spaced whereby to inhibit inadvertent location of the handle and catch at an incorrect angular disposition; thus the handle mating face can be fitted to the blade at the 90 degree and 270 degree rotational positions, but not inadvertently at the 0 degree and 180 degree positions.In an alternative embodiment the recesses are in the handle and the projections extend (upwardly as viewed in Fig.2) from the blade.

Each recess is frusto-conical, having an inclination of 5 degrees, to avoid a sloppy fit with the associated handle projections, as more particularly seen in Fig.3. In an alternative embodiment the recess and projection are of similar cross-section, but arranged so that the projection does not extend to the recess base.

Blade 112 has a pair of lead-in edges 118a,118b, suited respectively to either arcuate direction of operation. Nose 111 is provided for a purpose to be described.

In this embodiment, there is a hollow base 140, to be securely fixed to the window frame by screws (not shown) through strengthened portions 142,144. Base 140 is generally rectangular in plan view as more particularly seen in Fig.10, and conceals a tensioning means, in this case a leaf spring 150, but in an alternative embodiment a Belleville-type washer; spring 150 acts against the head of a pivot post which can be a pinned rod but which in this embodiment is a screw 130 which is held in a tapped portion of the blind bore 128. Spring 150 is of a strength to prevent (normal) manual lifting of the projections from the recesses, to avoid the catch and handle being relatively movable (liftable and rotatable) in normal use, which could be disconcerting to a householder. Release of the "projection to recess engagement" for re-positioning of the (relative) handle to blade position thus requires a special tool.

If desired, the handle can have a lock 151, as generally indicated in Fig.7, adapted to fit in recessed base portion 144, to prevent unauthorised pivoting of the fitted catch/handle combination.

Spring 150 is backed by a plastics washer 152, in this embodiment of thickness lmm, which limits unwanted sideways movement of the screw 130, and avoids the spring slipping over the head of screw 130. Plastic washer 152 also helps guide the screw head for rotational movement in the hollow base 140 when a square or other acircular extension drive rod 170 (see Fig 8) is fitted in a correspondingly-shaped recess 203 in the head of screw 130,230, for instance to operate additionally or alternatively an espagnolette, cremone or other sash fastening as generally shown in Fig.15.Usefully the pivot post 130,230 is magnetised to retain a drive rod or bar 170 of suitable material at least until assembled to the Fig.15 condition, but in alternative embodiments one of the screw head and bar can have a retained ball outwardly biassed by a spring to engage in a recess in the other, in known mechanical-connection fashion, or there is a spring clip to embrace and (temporarily) hold the drive rod or bar 170, again at least until assembled.

During initial assembly, securing screw 130 is passed through the washer 152, leaf spring 150, a bush or bearing washer 154, blade mating face 120 and handle mating face 124, and into the tapped hole 128 in the body of handle 114. With the selected projections and recesses in alignment, securing screw 130 is then tightened against the resisting force from spring 150 until mating faces 120,124 are in driving engagement with projections 126a within recesses 122a (Fig.3); screw 130 can if desired be fixed in this position, as by pin 132.In an alternative embodiment the screw is replaced by a securing (and pivot) member with a plain shank, and hole 128 is untapped, so that a pin 132 or equivalent is essential for rotationally coupling the securing member and handle (if the pin is circular), and for retention of the pin in the handle When so assembled, handle 114 and blade 112 may be rotated together relative to hollow base 14 about the pivot provided by screw 130 (230 in Fig.9), which thus has the dual function of (a) securing screw and (b) pivot pin. When mounted on an opening window or sash 400, as shown generally in Fig.l4, the blade 112 may engage behind an abutment such as a striking plate located on the window or door frame, to hold the sash in the fully closed condition in known fashion.

In order to change from an existing right-handed to a left-handed cockspur handle (or vice-versa), mating faces 120,124 are lifted apart against the tension of leaf spring 152 to release the projections from their respective recesses, whereupon blade 112 can be rotated through 180 degrees in a plane parallel to that of the mating faces and the projections engaged in the complementary recesses. This selection will typically be effected as a production step in the factory in response to urgent orders for right-handed or left-handed units, as from handle and cockspur units already assembled. It will be understood that once assembled and under spring tension, the force of spring 150 has to be overcome to permit the cockspur to be indexed.It will be further understood that though the pivotable catch and handle unit will already be available as above in the assembler's factory or warehouse as a singular design in large quantities "ready for indexing" in accordance with customer requirements, indexing could be effected on site by a fitter able to lift the handle and cockspur apart against the force of spring 150, typically using an appropriate separating tool.

The pivotable catch and handle when suitably indexed can be fitted to a sash, usefully by screws through sections 142,144.

Whilst in the embodiment of Fig.2 the drive projections 126 are integral with the handle 114, in the embodiment of Fig.7 the catch and handle are coupled by separate (non-integral) connecting members 226, which however will preferably by held more tightly in one of the handle and cockspur than the other to avoid dislodgement during indexing.

In the embodiment of Fig.8, a spring is not used. As better seen in Fig.9, the sub-base or clamp component 200 can be pre-assembled to include (screwed) pivot pin 230, bearing washer 254 and perhaps also the mounting screws 201. The clamp component 200 is then fitted into the (outer) housing 204 with screw 230 passing through cockspur blade 212 ready for coupling to a handle 214 (of a design to be selected by the purchaser) as above described. Thus not only is the cockspur indexable, so saving on inventory and permitting longer production runs, but a common sub-assembly can be used (with the same benefits) for fitting to a personalised handle.

Screw 230 is now tightened to the selected handle 214; tightening typically continues until the frusto-conical outer surface of the sub-base 200 engages the frusto-conical inner surface of the housing 204. In a preferred embodiment the screw 230 is now pinned to handle 214 so that when handle is turned the screw is forced to rotate within bearing washer 254 or equivalent; as mentioned above, if the pivot is to be pinned, screw 230 can be replaced by a non-threaded component.

In Fig.8, as in the embodiment of Fig.l8, the sub-base 200 is fitted within the housing 204, so as to allow the position of pinning to be selected in order that there remains a clearance "g" (Fig.18) between the projections and recesses of the handle and cockspur, whereby the cockspur can be indexed up until the time the mounting screws are tightened; thus the unit is despatched by the manufacturer/component assembler in the condition of Fig.18; the unit is indexed as and when required by the sash assembler. Tightening of the mounting screws 201 to the sash acts to pull the sub-base 200 away from the housing 204, and the teeth 126 into register with recesses 122, so that in this embodiment the handle and catch are inter-engaged during fitting i.e. into the selected indexed condition as the unit is being fixed to a sash.

For this embodiment the user cannot alter the indexed condition without loosening the mounting screws 201, and thus with at least partial removal of the unit from the sash.

In the embodiment of Fig.l9, a different and longer (in the left to right direction as viewed) housing 504 is used, for the fitting of wood screws or equivalent 501. In use the wood screws 501 are secured to the openable (glazed) window frame to locate the housing 504, and so as to permit handle 214 to be pivoted about combined pivot and coupling means 130. The sub-base 200 is shown in its position as if fully attached to the window, thus locking and tensioning the handle.

Fig 19 discloses a useful embodiment since it permits further inventory savings. Thus the unit can firstly be fitted as shown with a multi-point locking facility utilising both cockspur 112 together with either an espagnolette (one-way locking rods) or a cremone (opposite-way locking rods) driven respectively by rotatable acircular drive rod 170 in known fashion; the housing for the espagnolette or cremone is shown schematically at 510 (see also my co-pending UK Patent application 91141139), with projecting locking rods 512, the machine screws 201 connecting the catch and handle unit to the (metal) housing 510. The unit can secondly be fitted without the espagnolette or cremone and associated locking rods and with therefore only cockspur 112 available for window or other panel retention (in a closed or partly-closed i.e. vent condition); if a suitable (shorter length) pivot post (not shown) is fitted to replace rod 170, then the sub-assembly of sub-base 200 can furthermore be omitted, and moreover this pivot post can also be used as the espagnolette or cremone driver 170.

Many widows have both a (lower) relatively large side-opening sash and a smaller (upper) top-opening sash. The multi-point arrangement can then be used for the lower sash and the single-point (cockspur) arrangement can be used for the upper sash, both with the same design of handle 214 to provide a pleasing appearance.

A very valuable feature of the invention herein disclosed and taught is the selection of the separation (axis to axis) of machine screws 201 to be 43mm; this allows the catch and handle unit to be fitted to all known espagnolette and cremone locks.

In the embodiment of Fig.4 the cockspur has a fixed, nonrotatable security nose 111. In an alternative embodiment to that of Fig.4, the nose is provided with an arcuate lead-in and engagement surface; in a further alternative embodiment only the lead-in edge is arcuate, or in a further alternative embodiment it is chamfered.

In the embodiment of Fig.8, the cockspur has a security nose 311, rotatable as more fully described in relation to the Fig.l2 embodiment below. The recessed portion 244 of housing 204 is arcuate and open-ended, to permit nose 311 to "enter and leave" as the cockspur is pivoted "into and from" the vent or sash closed condition.

In the embodiments of Fig.12 and Fig.13, the cockspur blade 312 includes a lock nose 301 rotatably mounted upon a pivot pin 302.

Blade 312 can act against a striking plate or equivalent in known fashion as described above to prevent sash opening perpendicular to the glazing i.e downwardly as viewed in Fig.12, whilst the lock nose provides security against door or window opening parallel to the glazing i.e. to the left as viewed in Fig.12 or upwardly as viewed in Figs 14,15. Thus protection is provided by the nose against unauthorised opening of a sash, as by the sash being levered by a house-breaking tool away from the frame locking edge (i.e. towards the frame pivot edge).

A modification is shown in Fig.13, utilising an offset cockspur blade carried by cranked blade portion 338. The striking plate has the normal retention arm 319, but in addition has a depending (arcuate) arm 321 adapted to retain the rotatable nose when the window is held in the closed condition by the cockspur. The depending arm in this embodiment has a shaped contact surface 323, usefully chamfered with a front (right hand as viewed) surface section parallel to the back surface but alternatively part-circular so that the nose can engage therewith and rotate whilst being pivoted into and out of the sash retention condition.An advantage of the cranked section is that the striking "plate" can if required be made of inverted U-shape or "top-hat" shape so that the blade can guided into position both by the nose and the cranked arm 338, and so that cockspur blade movement both to the left and right as viewed is resisted; such "plate" can be a non-hollow component, suitably of metal.

Because the lock nose can rotate, wear is distributed and because the nose has an inbuilt, continuously replaced (secondary) lead-in surface the window fitter has an easier task in ensuring correct alignment with the striking plate to protect against fouling of the cockspur and plate in use.

A modified striking plate arrangement is disclosed in Figs.14-17. Depending arm 421 is integral with retention arm 419, as in the Fig.13 embodiment, but retention arm 419 is secured to wall 400 of a hollow profile 402, usually of extruded plastics but alternatively of metal, by we believe novel means. Retention arm 419 has a projection 405, having a first section 406 (Fig.16) of length greater than the thickness of wall 400 and a second section integral therewith with two opposed protrubrances 408.

The protrubrances can be pushed through an opening 407 in wall 400; but when expanded by flexing of the legs on which they are mounted (the legs being formed by slits in the second section from the free end thereof and extending towards the first section), the protrubrances are of greater outer radius than the surface around and defining opening 407. The legs can be expanded by posts 409, formed on cover plate 410. As seen in Fig.17, the cover plate 410 has two posts 409, respectively holding keeper projections 405 in spaced openings in the keeper so that the keeper cannot revolve, being held by the sides of openings 407.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the cover plate can be simply tapped into position, and does not require a threaded wall opening and/or adhesive to remain in position, even though itself acting as a striking plate. A keeper may be retained by more than two projections, extending through associated spaced holes in the wall 400 or equivalent.

The arrangement of Fig.20 has the multi-point locking feature as discussed in relation to Fig.18, with machine screws 201 (with axes spaced as above taught at 43mm) being tightenable to an espagnolette or cremone metal housing 510, whilst wood screws 501 are tightenable to the wood or plastics (glazing) frame of the openable window or sash. However the cockspur is integrally formed with handle 14, as in the Fig.1 prior art arrangement.

Pivot post 230 is of a modified and valuable construction, with ears 231 on shaft portion 230a of a selected length in accordance with the handle configuration, and usefully cold forged; as better seen in Fig.21 the ears are shaped to permit shaft insertion into handle 214 but thereafter to inhibit both retraction or angular movement of the shaft and thus of the post relative to the handle. Thus the need for the shaft to be externally threaded and for tapping of the reception aperture 128, and for pinning of the shaft, is avoided. This pivot post design can be used in any of the embodiments disclosed, the shaft 230a typically being forced into aperture 128 to a predetermined depth by a suitable jig, but alternatively until the shaft bottoms in the aperture.As many teeth as are required for the particular duty, perhaps disposed so that each is at a different depth into the aperture, can thus be provided. Usually the post will be of a harder material (metal) than that of the handle, preferably cold forged, with the displaced handle material cold forming around the ears after deformation for tight securement.

As shown in Fig.22, the post head 230b can have twin stops 2 integrally formed (during casting) and shaped to engage respective abutments on the sub-base 200, to limit the turning potential of handle 214 for both alternative "left hand" and "right hand" unit mounting i.e as compared to the single integral stop 4 of the Fig.20 embodiment, designed to abut opposite ends of an angular recess in sub-base 200 for the same purpose.

The great manufacturing and inventory simplification achieved by my invention will readily be apparent. I have provided a basic design of handle and catch unit which when assembled can be of either hand. It also permits multi-point locking from either hand. It also permits personalised handles to be used with a standard catch design. Thus in the particular embodiments above described, a cockspur unit can be "handed" alternately; the pivot post can engage a drive bar, for instance as disclosed for bar 170 engaged in recess 203 in the pivot post head, to drive an espagnolette or cremone, again from the left-hand or right-hand; each of the above can be locked as by a known locking arrangement 151. Thus a variety of units, at present made and stocked individually, both as to the assembled units and their components, can now be provided from one set of standardised components; whilst requests for personalised handles are more easily accomodated.

Claims (26)

1. A catch and handle unit in which the handle has a pivotable mounting and the catch is adjustable in position relative to the handle.

2. A unit according to Claim 1 in which the catch is rotatably mounted on the handle, the catch having first and second adjusted positions angularly spaced by 180 degrees.

3. A unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the catch has a pair of recesses and the handle has a projection, engagement of the projection in one of the recesses defining a first adjusted position of the catch, engagement of the projection in the other of the recesses defining a second adjusted position of the catch.

4. A unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each of the catch and handle has a pair of recesses, and wherein a connecting member is carried in one of the pairs of recesses, said connecting member being alternately engageable within each one of the other pair of recesses, to define adjusted positions of the catch relative to the handle.

5. A unit according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which each recess is inwardly tapering from its open end.

6. A unit according to any of Claims 1-5 in which the catch has an opening, the pivotable mounting being a rod projecting through the opening.

7. A unit according to Claim 6 in which the handle has a recess, the rod having a portion projecting into the recess, and in which holding means retain the rod in the recess.

8. A unit according to Claim 7 in which the holding means is a cross-pin extending through the rod portion.

9. A unit according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 in which the rod portion is externally threaded, and the recess has corresponding internal threads.

10. A unit according to any of Claims 6-9 in which the rod has a head, the head being located within a hollow housing, and in which resilient spring means are positioned between the head and the housing, the spring force being in a direction to urge the handle closer to the housing.

11. A unit according to Claim 10 in which the rod is carried in a sub-assembly positioned within the housing, the sub assembly being movable relative to the housing.

12. A unit according to Claim 11 in which the sub-assembly has a pair of mounting screws, the housing having access holes for screw-tightening means, whereby the sub assembly is pulled away from the housing as the screws are rotatably tightened into a support such as a window sash against which the housing abuts.

13. A unit according to any of Claims 1-12 in which the pivotable mounting has a recess sized to receive a driver for a rotatably-operated second securement means, and in which said second securement means is one of an espagnolette and cremone.

14. A unit according to any of Claims 10-13 in which the handle carries a lock, the lock having a portion projectable into a recess in the housing whereby to prevent pivoting of the handle.

15. A unit according to any of Claims 1-14 fitable to a sash window, the catch being a cockspur pivotable behind a fixed striker plate.

16. A unit according to any of Claims 1-15 in which the catch has a nose extending substantially parallel to the pivotable mounting, and in which the nose is rotatably mounted.

17. A unit according to Claim 16 when dependent upon Claim 10 in which the housing has an arcuate recess into and out of which the nose can move during locking and unlocking movement of the catch.

18. A striker plate suitable for use with a unit according to Claim 15 in which the fixing includes first and second pairs of expandable fingers fitable within respective support openings, and in which the fingers of each pair are outwardly separated by a respective post.

19. A sash window fitted with a unit according to any of Claims 1-17.

20. A fixed frame for a sash window fitted with a striker plate according to Claim 18.

21. A catch and handle unit constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to any of Figs.

2,7,8,10,14,15,16,17 or 18.

22. A catch constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to any of Figs.

2,4,5,7,8,10,11,12,13,14,15 or 18.

23. A handle constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to any of Figs. 2,6,7,8,12,14 or 15.

24. A striker plate constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to any of Figs 14,15,16 or 17.

25. A housing constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to any of Figs. 2,6,7,8 or 10.

26. A sub-assembly constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to Fig.8 or Fig.9.