GB2279984A - Window securement arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A window vent frame 2 has two independently operable closure devices 8, 10 each having a lockable handle 12 and a bolt 14. Each closure device is mounted on either a side or the transverse rail near to a respective corner of the window frame such that each bolt can be moved to extend beyond the vent frame to engage with a keeper 16 on the fixed frame. The bolts 14 can also have detents 26 which engage in keepers 28. <IMAGE>

Description

WINDOW SECUREHENT This invention relates to the securement of window vent frames in their closed positions in fixed frames.

In this specification the term vent frame denotes a frame which is hingedly mounted to a fixed frame. In the terminology of this specification, the vent frame has a "hinged rail" and a "leading rail" opposite to the hinged rail, and respective ends of these rails are secured together by "transverse rails", thereby forming a rectangle. The fixed frame has a "hinging rail" and a "contact rail", contacted by the leading rail of the vent frame on closure. Respective ends of these rails are connected together by "lateral rails", thereby forming a rectangle.

One securement device used to secure window vents in fixed frames has a single handle which is located in a central position on the leading rail of a vent frame, and is coupled to two long bolts, each of which extends right to a respective end of the leading rail. The handle is coupled to the bolts by a gearing mechanism which converts rotary motion of the handle into longitudinal movement of the bolts, in opposite directions. When the handle is turned to effect locking the ends of the bolts are thrown beyond the ends of the leading rail, so that the ends of the bolts engage in respective keepers in the lateral rails of the fixed frame. When the handle is turned in the opposite direction, the ends of the bolts are retracted from the keepers, so that the vent frame may be opened.

Such devices are used with UPVC windows, with the gearing and bolts being fitted within a cavity in a UPVC section. They have a good reputation for security.

However, they are expensive, being somewhat complicated.

Moreover, they are difficult and time consuming to fit.

In many practical situations the length of the bolts needs to be adjusted. This may be achieved by cropping the bolts, which can leave the ends in a condition in which penetration into the keepers is not smooth, or by the provision of a screw adjustment, whereby the free length of the bolts may be altered, which has a manufacturing cost disadvantage. Furthermore, they do not have a good reputation for achieving good weatherproofing.

An alternative to such a device is a fitting in which a central handle is coupled to a single bar which does not extend along the full length of the leading rail. Turning the handle causes the bar to move back and forth, but the bar does not engage with the lateral rails of the fixed frame. Rather, the bar carries detents, commonly in the form of pins or rollers, which selectively engage within keepers carried by the contact rail of the fixed frame.

The bar is usually carried on the leading face of the leading rail, although it can be located internally of the UPVC frame member if required. This type of device is much cheaper than the first type of device and is much easier to fit, especially when the bar is face mounted.

It has a good reputation for weatherproofing; the keepers maintain the vent frame firmly against the fixed frame.

However, such devices are thought to be less secure against intruders than the first type of device.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an assembly of a vent frame hinged within a fixed frame, wherein the vent frame includes two independently operable closure devices, each closure device having a control member and a bolt, coupled together so that movement of the control member causes longitudinal movement of the bolt, wherein each closure device is mounted adjacent to a respective corner of the vent frame at one end of the leading rail of the vent frame such that each bolt is selectively movable so that its end extends beyond the said corner, thereby to co-operate with the fixed frame and effect securement.

In accordance with the present invention, the closure devices could be mounted on respective transverse rails of the vent frame, so that they selectively engage the contact rail of the fixed frame, thereby to secure the corner regions. Preferably, however, the closure devices are both mounted on the leading rail so that they selectively engage the lateral rails of the fixed frame.

Preferably, each bolt is carried externally of the vent frame not within a UPVC profile.

Suitably the fixed frame is fitted with keepers within which the ends of the bolts may engage.

Preferably, each control member is lockable. For extra security, different locks may be provided.

Preferably each control member is a handle which may be turned to selectively effect securement.

Preferably, each bolt has at least one detent projecting towards the contact rail of the fixed frame, the or each detent being selectively engagable in a respective keeper thereof. Thus, when the window is closed, securement can be achieved along the leading rail/contact rail, and at the lateral rails. Moreover the presence of such detents and keepers means that good weatherproofing can be achieved.

Through the simple expedient of the present invention a number of advantages are achievable. A high level of security is achievable by means of the engagement of the ends of the bolts within the keepers. Fitting is simple, especially when the bolts are externally mounted, as is preferred. There is no need to alter the length of the bolts; the ends are located in the correct position simply by locating the fittings properly. The detents, when provided, help to assure good weatherproofing. The closure devices are cheap and simple to manufacture; two such closure devices are considerably cheaper to manufacture than any single presently available device which has two rods movable in opposite directions under the control of a single handle. The system is inherently more secure than such devices because of the use of independent closure devices, for each corner region.

Security is further improved when a customer opts to have different locks. Moreover a customer may choose to have the closure devices mounted transverse to the leading rail, as described above, for example on the upright lateral rails of a casement window which has an upper horizontal hinge. This means that the customer does not have to clear space on the internal sill, to accommodate room for the handles to turn in, when he wishes to open the window. Moreover, whilst the vent frame and fixed frame will normally be, and preferably are, of UPVC, the invention does not require this to be so. The invention can also be used with wood and aluminium framed windows.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows, schematically, the lower part of a tophinged outwardly opening casement window, comprising a vent frame and fixed frame; Fig. 2 shows, in perspective view, a keeper; and Fig. 3 is a schematic view in the direction of arrow "A", showing the end of a bolt within the keeper, and retracted therefrom.

The window assembly comprises a top-hinged glazed vent frame 2, the frame being constructed of UPVC profiles; and a UPVC fixed frame 4. The vent frame has, mounted on its leading rail 6, two independently operable closure devices 8, 10. Each closure device comprises a lockable rotary handle 12, coupled in standard manner to a bolt 14 of strip metal, such that the bolt can move back and forth. The gearing employed to achieve this may be the standard gearing used for conventional espagnolette fittings. Each bolt extends to a respective end of the leading rail. When the handle is moved to lock the window, the bolt is moved beyond the end of the leading rail, to locate within a keeper 16 mounted at the bottom end of the appropriate lateral rail 18 of the fixed frame.

As shown in Fig. 2, each keeper has a slot 18 within which the bolt locates, the bolt being of flat strip form.

Each keeper also has two securement holes 20. As shown in Fig. 3, to assist the engagement, the end of each bolt is tapered at 22, and the edges of the slot 18 are chamfered at 24.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, each bolt is carried externally of the vent frame, being face mounted on the leading face of the leading rail. Each bolt has two detents in the form of headed rollers 26, each selectively engageable within a respective keeper 28 mounted on the opposite face of the contact rail of the fixed frame.

Thus, the system provides four securement points along the leading rail, and two securement points beyond the leading rail, at the bottom ends of the lateral rails of the fixed frame.

It will be observed in Fig. 1 that each bolt 14 extends along approximately one-third of the leading rail.

Thus each handle 12 is located approximately one-sixth of the way along the leading rail, from the nearer corner.

It will be observed in Fig. 1 that the keepers 28 are of a standard type having a slot for night venting as well as for complete closure; and have four slots, so that the keeper is universal. It will be appreciated that only one slot is used in the Fig. 1 embodiment. An alternative embodiment employs narrower bolts 14 and end keepers 16 with two colinear slots 18, so that night venting is possible.

In another embodiment, instead of the bolts having detents in the form of headed rollers or pins, being fixed abutment members on the bolt, the bolts may have detents of the "drop nose" type. A detent of the "drop nose" type is movable about a pivot, between a stowed position in which it does not protrude from the bolt, and a securement position in which it does protrude, and is received within a keeper secured to the contact rail.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Claims (9)

CLAINS

1. An assembly of a vent frame hinged within a fixed frame, wherein the vent frame includes two independently operable closure devices, each closure device having a control member and a bolt, coupled together so that movement of the control member causes longitudinal movement of the bolt, wherein each closure device is mounted adjacent to a respective corner of the vent frame at one end of the leading rail of the vent frame such that each bolt is selectively movable so that its end extends beyond the said corner, thereby to co-operate with the fixed frame and effect securement.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the closure devices are both mounted on the leading rail so that they selectively engage the lateral rails of the fixed frame.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each bolt is carried externally of the vent frame.

4. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fixed frame is fitted with keepers within which the ends of the bolts may engage.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each control member is lockable.

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the locks of the control members differ from each other.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each control member is a handle which may be turned to selectively effect securement.

8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each bolt has at least one detent projecting towards the contact rail of the fixed frame, selectively engagable in a respective keeper thereof.

9. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.