GB2274675A

GB2274675A - Bolt for locking a sash or sliding door, and method for installing it

Info

Publication number: GB2274675A
Application number: GB9400483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Joseph Foster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-14
Filing date: 1994-01-12
Publication date: 1994-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 2014-01-12
Also published as: GB9400483D0; IE940017A1; GB2274675B

Abstract

A bolt device is described for releasably locking two frame members of a window or door to prevent sliding movement of one frame relative to the other. It comprises a sleeve 12 which can be secured to one frame, and a bolt 34 and an elongate handle 22 articulated together end to end, the combination being a sliding fit in the sleeve, with bias means 18 urging the bolt into a projecting position for engagement in a receiver recess 40 provided in the other frame. When the handle is pulled, overcoming the bias means, it draws the bolt into a retracted position and exits from the sleeve, whereupon being swivelled through a right angle and displaced across or through the joint (a pin 38 captive in a slot 28) the handle locks against the sleeve end under the bias that also retains the bolt in the retracted position. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR LOCKING A SASH, AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING IT This invention relates to a bolt device for releasably locking a sash in a sash window or a sliding door.

More particularly, it relates to a releasable locking bolt device for preventing sliding movement of one window or door frame member relative to another in a sash assembly or a sliding door, and to a method for installing said bolt device.

Several devices and systems have been used for locking or fastening sashes on windows and doors. See, for example, US Patents 47,537; 184,501; 532,935; 1,992,531; 2,018,346; 2,076,897; 2,098,249; 2,357,60; 2,845,709; and 3,082,617. Although some of such fastening systems involve the use of a movable bolt for preventing relative movement of one frame member relative to another frame member, such movable bolt fastening systems exhibit a number of disadvantages and have not been entirely satisfactory.

Additional fastening devices and systems are described, for example, in US Patents 8,286; 357,116; 876,429; 972,769; 985,652; 1,352,624; 1,509,619; 2,657,086; 2,477,524; and 3,233,932. These patents describe fastening systems involving movable bolts, some of which can be locked in a retracted position.

However, the fastening systems described therein are cumbersome in use or require specialized hardware.

There has not heretofore been provided a locking device or installation method having the advantages and exhibiting the ease of use which are associated with the locking device and installation method of this invention.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved locking device for releasably locking first and second frame members of a window or door to prevent sliding movement of one said frame member relative to the other. The locking device of this invention consists of materials which are very compact and easy to use.

It can easily be adapted for use on any conventional sash.

According to the invention there is provided a bolt device for releasably securing first and second frame members of a sash window or a sliding door against mutual sliding movement, which device comprises a rectilinear sleeve, for mounting in or on the second frame member, an assembly consisting of a bolt and an elongate handle articulated together end to end, the assembly being a sliding fit in the sleeve, movable between a projecting position of the bolt and a retracted position thereof with respect to a first end of the sleeve, and bias means urging the bolt into said projecting position, for engagement in a receiver recess in the first frame member, wherein said retracted position of the bolt corresponds to total withdrawal of the handle, including the joint, from the other end of the sleeve, wherein said withdrawal permits the handle to be swivelled until it is perpendicular to the bolt and sleeve, wherein said joint is adapted to permit the thus oriented handle also a small linear displacement transverse to the bolt and the sleeve, so that the bias means can urge the handle against said other end of the sleeve, to lock the bolt into said retracted position, while preventing unintentional swivelling of the handle and thereby preventing readmission of the handle into the sleeve.

Preferably the length of the sleeve is equal to the recommended thickness of said second frame member measured in a direction towards said first frame member which can slide relatively thereto, so that the sleeve can be mounted in a borehole of suitable diameter through said second frame member. To permit use of the bolt device, with the sleeve mounted in the second frame member and the bolt and handle assembly bias-mounted in the sleeve, a recess or aperture is provided in the first frame member to serve as a receiver for the bolt in use. Preferably a receiver lining member is provided as a supplement to the bolt device, and can be mounted in the recess or aperture to improve the wear property thereof.Preferably the bolt has a head of greater diameter than its shank, and the sleeve has a portion of its length of reduced internal diameter, the head and said portion comprising opposing flanges between which the preferred biasing means, a compression coil spring, is housed, surrounding said shank.

The invention also provides a method of installing the aforesaid bolt device, which comprises securing the sleeve to the second frame member, in such a position that said first end thereof adjoins or will adjoin a relevant surface of the first frame member, with the long axis of said sleeve disposed perpendicular to said surface, in a use position of said frame members in which it is desired to be able to lock them, and providing a recess or aperture into said surface, coaxial with the positioned sleeve, and of depth and diameter adapted for the reception of the bolt in the projecting position thereof.

For example, the sleeve may be inserted in a borehole of suitable diameter through said second frame member, and may be of a length equal to the thickness of said member, so that the sleeve ends are flush with the respective opposed faces of the member. The first and second frame members may then be placed in mutual sliding relationship, in a use position in which it is desired to be able to lock them, and the bolt head caused to project slightly (as by a light hammer blow applied to the free end of the handle) thereby marking the first frame member for boring a receiver bolthole therein.

When, in use, the handle is pulled outwardly away from the first frame member the bolt is moved axially relative to the sleeve to its retracted position.

When the bolt is in its retracted position the handle may be swivelled relative to the bolt and then moved along a line generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt, whereby the bolt is retained in its retracted position. When the bolt is in its retracted position, the two frame members may slide past each other (i.e., they are in the unlocked condition).

The use of the bolt device of the invention does not require any external hardware to be attached to the frame members. As a result, the materials described for use in this invention can be used in connection with any conventional frames.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several view and in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a preferred bolt device of this invention; Fig 2 is a side elevational cut-away view illustrating a bolt device of this invention in use; Fig 3 is a side elevational, partially cut-away view illustrating the invented bolt device with the bolt in the retracted position; Fig 4 is a side elevational, partially cut-away view illustrating the invented bolt device with the bolt in the retracted and "locked-open" position; Fig 5 is a side elevational view showing a preferred manner for connecting the bolt and the handle used in the bolt device of this invention; and Fig 6 is a top view showing the connection between the bolt and the handle.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a preferred bolt device 10 useful in this invention which comprises a bolt 20 pivotably connected to an elongate handle 22 and supported within an elongate sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 is carried by the second frame member 13.

A socket or recessed cup 40 is fitted into an aperture in the first frame member 11 in axial alignment with the sleeve 12 in the second frame member 13, as shown.

The exterior surface of the socket 40 preferably includes flutes 42 to facilitate anchoring in the aperture in first frame member 11. The exterior surface of the sleeve 12 also preferably includes flutes 14 to facilitate anchoring of the sleeve in the second frame member 13.

The bolt 20 and the handle 22 are pivotally connected to each other in end-to-end fashion as shown in Figs 5 and 6. Handle 22 includes a tapered and reduced diameter end 30 having an elongate slot 28 extending therethrough. The connecting end 36 of bolt 20 includes a yoke or U-shaped portion which is swivelably connected to the tapered end 30 of the handle 22 by means of a pin 38. This arrangement enables the handle 22 to be swivelled with respect to the bolt 20 (when the bolt 20 is in its retracted position), and it also enables the handle 22 to be moved in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt 20 to thereby lock the bolt 20 in its retracted position. The direction of this longitudinal movement is shown by the arrow in Fig 4.The end 30 of the handle 22 is preferably rounded as shown, to facilitate swivelling movement of the handle 22 without interference with the end 16 of the sleeve 12. This is best seen in Fig 4.

When the handle 22 is in axial alignment with the bolt 20, both bolt and handle are urged in the direction of the first frame member 11 by a compression spring 18.

Preferably the outer end of the bolt 20 includes an enlarged end 34 which is sized to be slidably received in the socket or recess 40 when the two frame members are in proper alignment. One end of the spring 18 bears against the enlarged head 34, and the other end of the spring bears internally against the end 16 of the sleeve 12, as shown (Fig 2). Thus, the spring 1 urges the bolt 20 to a normally-extended position where it is slidably receivable in socKet or recess 0 in first frame member l1, unless bolt 20 has been locked in its retracted position as shown in Fig 4.

An enlarged end 24 on the outer end of the handle 22 facilitates gripping of the handle 22 for movement thereof.

The sleeve 12 may be inserted into an appropriate aperture or borehole provided in the second frame member 13. One end 46 of the sleeve 12 is bevelled to facilitate insertion into an opening through frame member 13.

The slot 28 in the handle 22 may be of any size so long as (a) handle 22 may be swivelled to a position generally perpendicular to the bolt 20, and (b) the handle 22 may be moved along a line generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt 20 in a manner such that the handle 22 locks the bolt 20 in its retracted position. The arrangement shown in Fig 4 is preferred, ie, the handle 22 bears against the outer end 16 of the sleeve 12 to retain the bolt 20 in its retracted position.

Other variants are possible without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, there may be a plurality of spaced receivers or recessed areas 40 in first frame member 11 so that frame member 11 may be locked in any of a plurality of different positions relative to frame member 13.

Claims

1. A bolt device for releasably securing first and second frame members of a sash window or a sliding door against mutual sliding movement, which device comprises a rectilinear sleeve, for mounting in or on the second frame member, an assembly consisting of a bolt and an elongate handle articulated together end to end, the assembly being a sliding fit in the sleeve, movable between a projecting position of the bolt and a retracted position thereof with respect to a first end of the sleeve, and bias means urging the bolt into said projecting position, for engagement in a receiver recess in the first frame member, wherein said retracted position of the bolt corresponds to total withdrawal of the handle, including the joint, from the other end of the sleeve, wherein said withdrawal permits the handle to be swivelled until it is perpendicular to the bolt and sleeve, wherein said joint is adapted to permit the thus oriented handle also a small linear displacement transverse to the bolt and the sleeve, so that the bias means can urge the handle against said other end of the sleeve, to lock the bolt into said retracted position, while preventing unintentional swivelling of the handle and thereby preventing readmission of the handle into the sleeve.

2. A bolt device acacording to Claim 1 wherein the length of the sleeve is equal to the recommended thickness of said second frame member measured in a direction towards said first frame member which can slide relatively thereto, so that the sleeve can be mounted in a borehole of suitable diameter through said second frame member.

3. A bolt device according to Claim 1 or 2, which additionally comprises a receiver lining member, for mounting in the recess in the first frame member.

4. A bolt device according to any of Claims 1 - 3, wherein the bolt has a head of greater diameter than its shank, and the sleeve has a portion of its length of reduced internal diameter, the head and said portion comprising opposing flanges between which the biasing means is housed.

5. A bolt device according to Claim 4, wherein the biasing means is a compression coil spring, which surrounds the shank of the bolt.

6. A bolt device according to any of Claims 3 - 5, wherein at last one of the sleeve and the receiver lining member is provided externally with an axially spaced apart plurality of circumferential flutes, whereby to bed it securely into the walls of a borehole of suitable diameter in a frame member of yielding or compressible material.

7. A method of installing the bolt device according to any of Claims 1 - 6, which comprises securing the sleeve to the second frame member, in such a position that said first end thereof adjoins or will adjoin a relevant surface of the first frame member, with the long axis of said sleeve disposed perpendicular to said surface, in a use position of said frame member in which it is desired to be able to lock them, and providing a recess or aperture into said surface, coaxial with the positioned sleeve, and of depth and diameter adapted for the reception of the bolt in the projecting position thereof.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the sleeve is secured to the second frame member by inserting it in a borehole of suitable diameter through said member.

9. A method according to Claim 8, wherein the sleeve is of a length equal to the thickness of said second frame member, and the sleeve ends are flush with the respective opposed faces of the member, by virtue of the borehole axis being perpendicular to said faces.

10. A bolt device whenever installed by a method claimed in a preceding claim.

11. A bolt device for releasably securing first and second frame members of a sash window or a sliding door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.