GB2260362A

GB2260362A - Espagnolette

Info

Publication number: GB2260362A
Application number: GB9121397A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur Henry Shepherd
Original assignee: SHAPE ENGINEERING
Current assignee: SHAPE ENGINEERING
Priority date: 1991-10-09
Filing date: 1991-10-09
Publication date: 1993-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-09
Also published as: GB2260362B; GB9121397D0

Abstract

A pin (13) is present on one face of a drive pinion (6) which acts to move an espagnolette lock bar (1). The pin (13) moves in a slot (14) which limits the rotation of the pinion (6). <IMAGE>

Description

ESPAGNOLETTE The invention relates to an espagnolette assembly of the type fitted within a door or window frame member for transmitting the rotary action of a handle to one or more remote latches to enable the door or window to be opened or closed.

A known espagnolette assembly comprises an elongate bar receivable within a complementary channel provided on a first frame member of an opening window or door. At least one latch means is present on the bar which is engageable with a complementary latch on a second outermost fixed frame member which, when the window or door is in the closed condition, lies adjacent the first frame member.A bracket defining a through passageway to receive a length portion of the bar is secured to the first member and includes a rotary pinion means connectable between a rotary handle disposed externally of the first frame member and a rack means disposed on the bar, the assembly being arranged such that rotation of the pinion by the handle causes the bar to move in the direction of its length within the channel between a first condition in which the latches are engaged and a second condition in which the latches are disengaged to allow the door or window to be opened.

The rotary handle should be arranged to move the pinion through 900. Hitherto the handle has been provided with a stop to prevent movement of the handle beyond its intended limit of travel. In an attempt to reduce cost cheaper handles which have no such stop means have been introduced. This has thrown more duty on the bracket. It has been observed that excessive force applied to a cheaper type handle can damage the fitting bracket assembly.

According to a first aspect of the invention an espagnolette assembly as defined above is characterised in that auxiliary means are present to limit the rotational movement of the pinion.

Preferably the auxillary means comprises an extension of the pinion arranged to travel in an enclosed slot in a portion of the bracket, the slot being dimensioned and located so as to limit the movement of the pinion. The extension is preferably a pin or like extension on a face of the pinion, arranged to move in the slot formed in the adjacent sidewall of the bracket. The slot is dimensioned so that the pin and hence the pinion can move through 900 or what other value is required.

In order that the invention may be better understood it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an espagnolette assembly of the invention showing the safety device at one limit of its travel, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section along line I-I of Figure 1 showing the safety device at the other limit of its travel.

The espagnolette assembly comprises a length of metal bar 1 of rectangular section. An L-shaped bracket 2 formed from metal sheet is wrapped about the bar to define a through passageway 3.

Screw holes 4 are present within the upstanding portion 5 of the bracket 2. Alternatively the bracket may be made as a die casting in zinc alloy or aluminium, or as an injection moulding in plastic.

A rotary pinion 6 defining a square through aperture 7 to receive the shaft of a rotary handle (not shown) is sandwiched between the opposing walls of the upstanding portion 5. As shown in Figure 2, the pinion 6 includes three radially extending teeth 8 which intermesh with complementary teeth 9 provided on a rack 10 secured to the bar 1. One edge 11 of the pinion 6 is arranged to abut the inside surface of the bight 12 of the bracket 2 when the pinion is rotated to one limit of its travel. If, because there are no stops on the handle, the shaft is rotated by more than 900, the edge 11 can be urged into the bight 12 to cause the bracket 2 to burst open along the bight.To avoid this risk, according to the invention, a pin or like projection 13 (Figure 2) is present on one face of the pinion 6 slightly away from the hole 7, and an enclosed slot 14 (Figure 1) is present in the adjacent face of the upstanding portion 5 of the bracket 2, the slot being dimensioned and located so that the pin 13 will contact either end of the slot at the intended limit of travel of the pinion, i.e. through about 900. Because of the contact it will not be possible to move an edge of the pinion to damage the bight of the bracket 2.

The bar 1 is receivable within a channel within a frame member not shown, a slot being present in the floor of the channel to receive the upstand 5 of the bracket 2. In use, a rotary handle (not shown) extends through a wall of the frame member and into the square aperture 7 in the pinion 6. The espagnolette assembly further includes latch means comprising a pair of roller studs 15 engageable with complementary latch means (not shown) disposed on a fixed frame member (not shown) which, when the window is in the closed condition, lies adjacent and in parallel with the frame member.

The assembly is arranged so that rotation of the external handle causes the pinion 6 to move the rack 10 and the bar 1 in the direction of its length relative to the bracket and the frame between a first condition in which the latches are engaged, and a second condition in which the latches are disengaged and the window may be opened.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The parts may be reversed, i.e. the slot may be formed in the pinion and a fixed pin be present on the inner surface of the bracket wall.

The bracket may not be L-shaped, it may be an inverted T-shape.

It may not wrap around the bracket at all, but be retained on the rack by means of grooves and projections in the mating components.

Claims

1. An espagnolette assembly comprising an elongate bar receivable in a complementary channel in a first frame member, latch means being present on the bar (1) and engagable with a complementary latch on a second frame member, a pinion (6) connected to the bar (1) and arranged to receive a rotary handle disposed externally of the first frame member, rack means (9,10) disposed on the bar (1) and arranged so that rotation of the pinion (6) by the handle moves the bar (1) within the channel characterised in that auxiliary means (13,14) are present to limit rotational movement of the pinion (6).

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 characterised in that the auxiliary means comprises an extension (13) of the pinion (6) arranged to travel in an enclosed slot (14) dimensioned and located so as to limit the movement of the pinion (6).

3. An assembly according to Claim 2 characterised in that the extension (13) is a pin arranged to travel in a slot (14) located in an adjacent sidewall.

4. An assembly according to Claim 2 characterised in that the slot (14) is formed in the pinion (6) and the pin (13) projects into the slot (14) from an adjacent wall.

5. An assembly according to any preceding Claim characterised in that the pinion (6) is mounted in a bracket (2) connected to the bar (1).

6. An assembly according to Claim 5 characterised in that the bracket (2) is formed of sheet metal, or a metal casting or a plastics moulding.

7. An assembly according to any preceding Claim in combination with a rotary handle having a shaft to be received in the pinion (6), the handle having no stop means to limit rotation of the shaft.