GB2298449A

GB2298449A - Multiple bolt locking assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2298449A
Application number: GB9504323A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith George Faskin
Original assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Current assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Priority date: 1995-03-03
Filing date: 1995-03-03
Publication date: 1996-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-03
Also published as: GB9504323D0; GB2298449B

Abstract

A locking assembly 1 comprising a case 5 having a first side 7 and two ends 9, a pair of catches 17 pivotally mounted in the case 5, means 25,29,31 for rotating the catches 17 about their respective pivot axes 19 in opposite directions such that the catches 17 extend outwardly relative to the first side 7 of the case 5 into an active position for locking and drive means 43 associated with the catches 17 which, as the catches 17 are extended, can be used to drive shoot bolts 49 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ends 9 of the case 5.

Description

A LOCKING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to.locking assemblies, and in particular to a shoot bolt type locking assembly for a vent or the like.

Locking assemblies for vents, such as windows, are well known. Relatively complicated assemblies, such as espagnolette mechanisms, are also well known for providing locking engagement between the mechanism mounted on a vent and a fixed frame Such systems provide good security, which is currently a very important consideration for many purchasers and users of locking assemblies.

Shoot bolt locking assemblies which involve rods driven by a rotatable handle are usually mounted within an extrusion forming part of the vent itself. In general, the rods driven by the handle are simply extended or retracted from the sides of the vent into holes or keeps in the sides of the fixed frame which surrounds the opening to be closed by the vent. It is also known for the locking assembly to include a catch which extends from the bottom of the vent into the fixed frame midway between the keeps for the shoot bolts, thereby providing additional protection against intruders.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention aims to improve upon the prior art locking assemblies by providing a novel and inventive locking assembly with an improved mechanism.

According to the present invention there is provided a locking assembly comprising a case having a first side and two ends, a pair of catches pivotally mounted in the case, means for rotating the catches about their respective pivot axes in opposite directions such that the catches extend relative to the first side of the case into an active position for locking and drive means associated with the catches which, as the catches are extended, can be used to drive shoot bolts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ends of the case.

By providing two catches which swing in opposite directions into their locking positions, more secure locking of the vent in the fixed frame is achieved. Further, by associating the drive means with the catches, a very simple and convenient mechanism is provided.

Preferably the catches each include a nib for engaging a keep for locking. The nibs may be used for hooking behind or within a keep mounted on the fixed frame, during use.

The means for rotating the catches preferably include a bar extending between the catches, the bar carrying a rack for engagement by a drive pinion. The drive pinion may be shaped to receive a square drive of a handle, for example.

The bar preferably interacts with a toothed portion of each catch during rotation of the catches. Alternatively, the bar may engage an ear extending from each catch to rotate the catches, during use. In either event, the bar may be stepped such that the bar acts on opposite sides of the two catch pivot axes to rotate the catches in opposite directions.

The drive means may comprise sliders received in the case which engage the catches and move therewith.

In a preferred embodiment the drive means associated with the catches each comprise a pair of pins, one pin being received in a guide in the case and the other pin being received in a guide in the catch. As a result, as the catches are rotated, the pins received in the catches are moved, thereby causing the sliders to be moved also. The pins engaging in the guides in the case simply assist in holding the sliders in the correct orientation.

As will be appreciated, shoot bolts can be attached to the sliders such that, as the sliders move relative to the case, the shoot bolts are extended or retracted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ends of the case.

A specific embodiment of the present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoot bolt locking assembly according to the present invention mounted in a vent, with a keep to be mounted on a fixed frame positioned nearby; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a locking assembly according to the present invention with the catches in their retracted positions; and Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the locking assembly of Figure 2 with the catches in their extended, locking positions.

With reference to the drawings, a locking assembly 1 according to the present invention may be mounted on or in a vent 3 which is to close an opening in a fixed frame (not shown). The locking assembly 1 comprises a case 5 which is relatively long and slim and defines a first side 7 and two ends 9. The case 5 is provided with holes 11 through which fasteners, such as screws or bolts, can pass to secure the case 5 within an extrusion 15 forming one side of the vent 3.

Two catches 17 are pivotally mounted in the case 5 for rotation about pivot axes 19. Each catch 17 includes a toothed region 21 for interaction with a rack 23 formed on a bar 25 within the case 5. The bar 25 includes a step 27 to enable the rack 23 of the bar 25 to interact with the catches 17 on opposite sides of their respective pivot axes 19. As a result, movement of the bar 25 causes the catches 17 to rotate in opposite directions about their respective pivot axes 19.

A square drive 29 can be used to rotate a geared wheel 31 to interact with the rack 23 of the bar 25 to drive the bar 25 to the left or to the right as shown in Figures 2 and 3. On rotation of geared wheel 31 in a clockwise direction (cf. Figure 2), the bar 25 is moved to the left, thereby causing the catches 17 to be extended out of the side 7 of the case 5. In use, these catches 17, which include nibs 33, engage in a keep or behind a face plate 35 mounted on the fixed frame (not shown) to hold the vent 3 closed. As shown in Figure 1, the plate 35 can include two pairs of openings 37 to enable the vent 3 to be held either fully closed or partially closed (as a night vent position).

Each of the catches 17 includes a guide channel 39 for receiving a pin 41 of a slider 43. The sliders 43 each include a second pin 45 which is received in a guide channel or slot 47 in the case 5. As the catches 17 are rotated, the pins 41 are free to slide along the guides 39 and cause the slider 43 to be drawn along the guides channels 47.

Thus, as shown in Figure 2, as the catches 17 are extended, the sliders 43 are moved outwardly towards the ends 9 of the case 5.

In practice, and as shown in Figure 1, shoot bolts 49 are mounted on the sliders 43 such that, as the catches 17 are extended into their locking positions, the shoot bolts 49 are likewise extended from the sides of the vent 3 into their locking positions. Conversely, when the catches 17 are withdrawn by rotation of the square drive 29 in an anticlockwise direction, the shoot bolts 49 are similarly retracted back into the vent 3.

As will be noted from Figure 1, the shoot bolts 49 are provided with guides 51 mounted on the corners of the vent 3 to ensure correct alignment during locking. Further, the catches 17 are provided with cut-out regions 53 to accommodate the mounting holes 11 when the catches 17 are in their retracted position. Alternatively, of course, the catches 17 could be of a different shape or the mounting holes 11 could be situated elsewhere in the case 5.

In an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, the bar 25 could be pivotally attached to ears formed on the catches 17 to cause the catches 17 to rotate on movement of the bar 25. Other linkages may also be envisaged by those skilled in the art.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A locking assembly comprising a case having a first side and two ends, a pair of catches pivotally mounted in the case, means for rotating the catches about their respective pivot axes in opposite directions such that the catches extend relative to the first side of the case into an active position for locking and drive means associated with the catches which, as the catches are extended, can be used to drive shoot bolts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ends of the case.

2. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catches each include a nib for engaging a keep for locking.

3. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means for rotating the catches includes a bar extending between the catches, the bar carrying a rack for engagement by a drive pinion.

4. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the drive pinion is shaped to receive a square drive of a handle.

5. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the bar interacts with a toothed portion of each catch during rotation of the catches.

6. A locking assembly as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the bar is stepped such that the bar acts on opposite sides of the two catch pivot axes to rotate the catches in opposite directions.

7. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bar engages an ear on each catch to rotate the catches, during use.

8. A locking assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drive means comprise sliders received in the case which engage the catches and move therewith.

9. A locking assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drive means associated with the catches each comprise a pair of pins, one pin being received in a guide in the case and the other pin being received in a guide in the catch.

10. A locking assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A shoot bolt locking mechanism comprising a locking assembly as claimed in any preceding claim and one or more shoot bolts attached to the drive means.

12. A shoot bolt locking mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.