GB2309997A

GB2309997A - Push button window lock

Info

Publication number: GB2309997A
Application number: GB9602748A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Philip Shenton
Original assignee: PLUS PLAN
Current assignee: PLUS PLAN
Priority date: 1996-02-10
Filing date: 1996-02-10
Publication date: 1997-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-10
Also published as: GB9602748D0; GB2309997B

Abstract

A handle for windows or doors comprises a grip 2 rotationally mounted on a support 4 and incorporates a locking member 16 biased into engagement with the support 4. A push button 10 is formed with a rack 13 which connects to a pinion 14 which also connects with a second rack 17 on the locking member 16. When the button 10 is depressed, the locking member 16 is moved out of engagement with the support 4. The push button 10 can be locked using a disc tumbler lock 110.

Description

Title - Handle for Windows or Doors This invention relates to a handle for windows or doors, and in particular to a handle which can be locked to prevent opening of the window or door and which is easy to operate.

According to the invention, a handle for windows or doors comprises a grip adapted for rotational mounting on a support, the grip incorporating a locking member disposed substantially orthogonally to the plane of rotation of the grip and biassed into engagement with the support, the locking member being operably linked to an actuator disposed for movement substantially parallel to the locking member, motion of the actuator towards the support causing motion of the locking member out of engagement with the support, wherein the actuator comprises an actuating member disposed for manual operation by a user grasping the grip and a follower which is acted upon but is independent of the actuator and which is operably connected to the locking member.

The operable linkage between the follower and the locking member most preferably includes a rack-and-pinion mechanism. Thus, the follower and the locking member are preferably each formed with racks which engage a pinion mounted for rotation between them.

The locking member is preferably biassed into engagement with the support by resilient spring means, eg a compression spring captivated between an end of the locking member and a fixed internal surface of the grip.

Most preferably, the actuator can be locked to prevent depression of the actuator (and hence disengagement of the locking member from the support, and opening of the door or window).

Most preferably, a key-operated locking mechanism is provided.

The support is preferably a handle base which may be secured to the door or window in conventional fashion. The locking member most preferably engages in a suitably formed recess in the handle base.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a side view, partially in section, of a window handle according to the invention in a closed condition, Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the handle of Figure 1 in an opening position, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 in a closing position, Figure 4 is a plan view of a grip forming part of the handle of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a plan view of an actuating push-button forming part of the handle of Figure 1, and Figures 6 to 8 are respective views on the arrows VI, VII, and VIII in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figure 1, a handle for a window comprises a grip 2 mounted on a handle base 4 fixed to a hinged window sash (not shown) in a conventional manner. The grip 2 rotates about a spindle 6 formed integrally with the grip 2. The spindle 6 has a central bore 6a which, in use, engages an upstanding pin forming part of a window locking system (not shown) of conventional form, eg an espagnolette locking systern, to provide an operable linkage between the grip 2 and the locking system. When the window is closed, rotation of the grip 2 through 90O causes the locking system to move from a locked condition, in which the window cannot be opened, to a released condition, in which the window may be opened.

The grip 2 is formed with a cavity 8 which accommodates a mechanism for locking the window.

The mechanism comprises essentially a push-button 10, a driven pin 12, a pinion 14 and a locking pin 16. The push-button 10 is received within an opening 20 in the upper surface of the grip 2, and projects from the grip 2 such that it may be depressed by the thumb of a user's hand grasping the grip 2. The push-button 10 is retained within the grip 2 by a circlip 11. The lower surface ofthe push-button 10 bears against the driven pin 12, which is formed with a first rack 13 which engages the pinion 14. The pinion 14 in turn engages a second rack 17 formed on the locking pin 16. The arrangement is such that depression of the push-button 10 moves the driven pin 12 towards the base 4, which rotates the pinion 14 and in turn draws the locking pin 16 away from the base.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the lower end of the locking pin 16 locates in a recess 22 formed in the base 4, thereby preventing rotation of the grip 2.

The pinion 14 is formed integrally with an axle 15 which is held between suitable formations (not visible) in the internal wall of the cavity 8 and projections (also not visible) upstanding from a retaining plate 19 which closes the underside of the cavity 8. A compression spring 18 is captivated between the locking pin 16 and the roof of the cavity 8, and biasses the locking pin 16 to the position shown in Figure 1.

As shown most clearly in Figure 7, the push-button 10 has an enlarged head 102 and, below the enlarged head 102, a longitudinal rib 104. The push-button 10 also has a key slot 106 (see Figure 5) and a transverse slot 108 (see Figure 6) which houses a spring-loaded disc tumbler 110 (shown only in Figures 1 to 3). Depression of the push-button 10 into the opening 20 is limited by a ledge 202 (see Figure 4) formed around the internal wall of the opening 20. Three channels 204,206,208 are formed in the ledge 202.

In an unlocked condition, the push-button is aligned as shown in Figure 1, with the key slot 106 in line with the grip 2. The rib 104 is received within the first channel 204, enabling the pushbutton 10 to move from its normal position, in which it projects from the grip 2 (due to the action of the spring 18 on the locking pin 16), to a depressed position (see Figure 2) under manual pressure applied by a use?s thumb. The disc tumbler 110, which projects from the transverse slot 108 in the push-button 10, is meanwhile received within the second channel 206. In this condition, with the window closed, the window may be opened by depressing the push-button 10. This depresses the driven pin 12, thereby rotating the pinion 14 and raising the locking pin 16 out of engagement with the recess 22 in the base 4. The grip 2 may then be rotated through 90 , rotation of the spigot 2a causing the window locking mechanism to disengage and enabling the window to be opened.

To close the window, the grip 2 is grasped and the window drawn into the closed position. The grip 2 is then rotated back to the position shown in Figure 1. As the grip 2 approaches that position, the projecting end of the locking pin 16 engages the side of the base 4. The end of the locking pin 16 and/or the side of the base 4 are suitably formed (eg with ramps) to enable the locking pin 16 to ride up over the base 4, against the action of the spring 18. This movement causes rotation of the pinion 14 and thus in turn movement of the driven pin 12 away from the underside of the push-button 10, as shown in Figure 3. Because the driven pin 12 is not coupled to the push-button 10, the latter does not need to move to permit closing of the window.

However, if it desired to prevent the end ofthe locking pin 16 contacting the base 4 during such movement (eg to prevent any risk of scratching of the base) then the push-button 10 may be depressed, thereby withdrawing the locking pin 16 into the grip 2.

When the window is closed, the handle may be locked by inserting a key into the key slot 106.

The key engages the tumbler 110 with a camming action and draws the end of the tumbler 110 out ofthe channel 206. The push-button 10 may then be rotated clockwise through 900. Further rotation ofthe push-button 10 is prevented by astop 210 formed on the ledge 202, against which the rib 104 bears. In this position, when the key is withdrawn from the key slot 106, the tumbler 110 projects once again from the transverse slot 108 and is received within the third channel 208.

The underside of the rib 104 rests on the ledge 202 which prevents depression of the push-button 10. Since the push-button 10 cannot be depressed, the locking pin 16 cannot be disengaged from the recess 22 in the base 4, the grip 2 cannot be rotated and hence the window cannot be opened.

To open the window, the key is used to disengage the tumbler 110 from the third channel 208 and rotate the push-button 10 back to the position shown in Figure 1, whereupon the push-button 10 may once again be depressed.

Claims

1. A handle for windows or doors comprises a grip adapted for rotational mounting on a support, the grip incorporating a locking member disposed substantially orthogonally to the plane of rotation of the grip and biassed into engagement with the support, the locking member being operably linked to an actuator disposed for movement substantially parallel to the locking member, motion of the actuator towards the support causing motion of the locking member out of engagement with the support, wherein the actuator comprises an actuating member disposed for manual operation by a user grasping the grip and a follower which is acted upon but is independent of the actuating member and which is operably connected to the locking member

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operable linkage between the follower and the locking member includes a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the follower and the locking member are each formed with racks which engage a pinion mounted for rotation between them.

4. A handle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking member is biassed into engagement with the support by resilient spring means.

5. A handle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the resilient spring means comprises a compression spring captivated between an end of the locking member and a fixed intemal surface of the grip.

6. A handle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuator can be locked to prevent depression of the actuator.

7. A handle as claimed in claim 6, wherein a key-operated locking mechanism is provided.

8. A handle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is a handle base and the locking member engages in a suitably formed recess in the handle base.

9. A door or window fitted with a handle as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. A handle substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.