GB2310456A

GB2310456A - Shoot bolt espagnolette

Info

Publication number: GB2310456A
Application number: GB9703540A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-20
Filing date: 1997-02-20
Publication date: 1997-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-20
Also published as: GB9703540D0; GB2310456B

Abstract

A mechanism for operating a double acting shoot bolt espagnolette in a glazed panel assembly (10, 16) comprises drive transmitting means (48, 68) adapted to be actuated by an operating mechanism (4, 5) for opening and closing an openable frame of the assembly. The drive transmitting means is operable to cause a pair of shoot bolt operating arms (34, 36) to be moved substantially simultaneously in opposite directions to one another. The drive transmitting means is disposed generally in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of movement of the shoot bolt operating arms, the arms also carry a pair of striker pins (84, 86) for co-operation with a striker plate. Actuating means (40, 38) by which drive is supplied to the drive transmitting means is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the said shoot bolt operating arms.

Description

SHOOT BOLT WINDOW LOCKING SYSTEM This invention relates to a mechanism comprising an espagnolette fastening suitable for use on openable glazed panel assemblies, eg. hinged windows.

There is a tendency in the window manufacturing industry to prefer so called 'glazed in' frames, where the periphery of the glazing is substantially overlapped by a peripheral flange of the glazed frame, for improved security. However, the profile of 'glazed-in' windows is such that the inside face depth of the glazed frame is narrow and the internal dimensions are limited. Known espagnolette and/or shoot bolt mechanisms are either unable to fit a significant range of 'glazed-in' and 'glazedout' frame assemblies and/or are less than satisfactory in providing secure latching.

The mechanism of the present invention seeks to improve the security of the latching between the openable and fixed frames of a glazed panel assembly and is sized and constructed to fit a significant range of glazed panel assemblies.

One aspect of the present invention provides a mechanism for operating a double acting shoot bolt espagnolette in a glazed panel assembly comprises drive transmitting means adapted to be actuated by an operating mechanism for opening and closing an openable frame of the assembly, said drive transmitting means being operable to cause a pair of shoot bolt operating arms to be moved substantially simultaneously in opposite directions to one another, said drive transmitting means being disposed generally in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of said shoot bolt operating arms and having actuating means, by which drive is supplied to said drive transmitting means, disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of said shoot bolt operating arms.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a mechanism for operating double acting striker pins in a glazed panel assembly comprises drive transmitting means adapted to be actuated by an operating mechanism for opening and closing an openable frame of the assembly, said drive transmitting means being operable to cause a pair of striker pins to be moved substantially simultaneously in opposite directions to one another, said drive transmitting means being disposed generally in a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane of movement of said striker pins and having actuating means by which drive is supplied to said drive transmitting means, disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of said striker pins.

According to a feature of either aspect of the invention each of said shoot bolt operating arms may carry a shoot bolt movable by and in substantially the same plane as the associated shoot bolt operating arm.

According to another feature of either aspect of the invention said drive transmitting means may comprise rotatable elements and wherein each of said shoot bolt operating arms may be connected to said drive transmitting means, said actuating means being rotatable simultaneously to extend and retract said arms relative to a housing in which said rotatable elements are disposed.

Preferably, drive transmitting means comprises a slidable member driven by said rotatable element which is rotated by movement of an operating handle. In the same arrangements in which the drive transmitting means comprises a slidable member, the slidable member may include a toothed rack driven by a gear which is rotatable by said operating handle. In other arrangements in which the drive transmitting means comprises a slidable member, the slidable member may transmit drive to one of said shoot bolt operating arms directly and to other of said shoot bolt operating arms by means of a further gear which cooperates with a toothed rack provided by said other of the shoot bolt operating arms.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides, in a glazed panel assembly having fixed and openable frames a mechanism according to any of the five immediately preceding paragraphs wherein said drive transmitting means is disposed in the openable frame of the assembly for co operation with the fixed frame to secure and release the openable frame relative to the fixed frame, said actuating means extending into the openable frame below the glazing chamber thereof.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly comprising a fixed frame and an openable frame with a rotatable spindleZrive operating mechanism secured to the openable frame; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a gearbox mechanism of the assembly shown in part cross-section; Figure 2a is an end elevation of the gearbox mechanism; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the gearbox mechanism; Figure 4, is a perspective view of the gearbox mechanism and central striker plate for use with the mechanism; Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are various views of the locking system in-situ; Figure 5d is a plan view of the central striker plate and central striker pins; Figures 6a and 6b are various views of the shoot bolt for use in the locking system; Figure 7a, 7b and 7c are various views of the corner housing for use in the locking system; Figures 8a, 8b and 8c are various views of the end striker plate for use in the locking system; and Figures 9a, 9b and 9c are various views of the central striker plate for use in the locking system.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an assembly which includes a rotatable spindle-drive operating mechanism associated with a glazed panel assembly. The glazed panel assembly comprises a fixed frame 10 having an upstanding flange 12 integral at that side of the frame which is intended to face towards the interior of a building to which it is mounted, ie. to the right as shown in the drawings. The fixed frame includes a centre striker plate 14 which is mounted on an outwardly facing surface 10a of the fixed frame. The fixed frame 10 can be formed as an extruded uPVC profile.

The glazed panel assembly also includes a casement ie. openable frame 16 which, in this embodiment, comprises an extruded uPVC profile. The casement frame receives the glazing of the glazed panel assembly which is a doubleglazed panel 18 the peripheral edge of which is received in a glazing chamber 20 and mounted by way of spaced sealing elements 22 and 24 respectively, each of which is secured to a mounting groove provided by the frame profile. The frame also includes a so called Euro-groove 26 which extends upwardly from the inner face 16a of frame 16 into an intermediate chamber 28 disposed below the glazing chamber 20.

An espagnolette and shoot bolt mechanism is mounted on the casement frame 16 and, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3, includes a central gearbox assembly 30 which is secured to casement frame 16 upright and generally in the plane of frame 16 between the intermediate chamber 28 and the fixed frame 10 when the casement frame 16 is in its closed position. A pair of striker pins, referred to later, extend from gearbox 30 for ce-operation with a central fixed striker plate 14 illustrated in Figure 1. The gearbox is mounted within the Euro groove 26 and projects through the roof of the groove. The gearbox 30 comprises a hollow, relatively thin, elongate housing 30a which is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to that containing slidable striker arms 34 and 36, respectively. Striker arms 34, 36 are operable to slide in synchronism but in opposed directions relative to the housing 32.

The shoot bolt mechanism is adapted to be operated by a conventional window operating mechanism having a square cross-section drive spindle 42 and formed with a drive gear 40 within which is located in a complementary aperture 38. The spindle 42 is carried by handle H which is rotated to rotate the drive gear 40 via the spindle 42. Drive gear 40 includes an axial hub 43 by which it is rotatably journalled in an aperture 44 positioned intermediate of the ends of the housing. The gear teeth 40a are disposed within a recessed area 46 formed in one face of the housing. Gear teeth 40a mesh with a toothed run in a flat toothed rack plate 48 located within the recessed area 46 of the housing, the rack being constrained to slide to and fro by the housing as the drive gear 40 is rotated. Sliding movement of the rack plate 48 is transmitted to the striker arm 34 by means of a tongue 50 which projects from the base of the rack plate 48 and engages a notch 52 formed adjacent the inboard end of striker arm 34. A further tongue 54 of the rack plate 48 abuts striker arm 34 and provides support and directional stability to the movement of the striker arm. In addition, tongue 54 also acts as a stop when striker arms 34 and 36 come together.

The striker arm is constrained to slide between a base plate 58 and the lower face of the housing along the upper face 60 of the base plate. The base plate and the housing are keyed together as described below.

Drive is also transmitted from rack plate 48 to the opposite striker arm 36. To this end a short spindle 62 projects from one face of rack plate 48 remote from tongue 54 and passes through a slot 64 in the recessed area 46 of the housing. Spindle 62 locates in a recess 66 formed in the periphery of a rotatable toothed gear 68. Gear 68 is positioned in another recessed area (not shown) formed in the opposite face of the housing and rotates about a fixed axle 69 positioned therein. The gear teeth 68a mesh with a toothed run at the inboard end of striker arm 36 so that when drive is transmitted to gear 68, from short spindle 62, the gear is caused to rotate, thereby causing the striker arm 36 to slide upon the upper face 60 of base plate 58. Thus, the striker arms 34, 36 are caused to move in a synchronised manner but in opposed directions by a unidirectional rotating action of the operating handle which drives gear 40.

In order to key together the gearbox housing 30 and the base plate 58, the bottom face of the housing 32 has spaced locating legs 70, 72 and 74 which key into spaced receiving slots 76, 78 and 80, respectively, formed in the base plate 58. Locating leg 70 passes through the slot 56 in striker arm 34 so that movement of the striker arm is not hindered, and likewise locating leg 74 passes through slot 82 formed in striker arm 36 so that movement of that arm is not hindered.

The open faces defining the recessed areas of the housing are closed by a pair of flank plates 108, 110 respectively, each of which includes an access aperture 1OSa and 110a by which an operating spindle can be applied to gear 40.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the shoot bolt mechanism also includes a pair of closely spaced centrally disposed striker pins 84 and 86. Striker pin 84 extends from the inboard end of striker arm 34 and is secured thereto by means of locating aperture 88. Likewise, striker pin 86 extends from the inboard end of striker arm 36 and is secured thereto by means of locating aperture 90. Thus, striker pins 84, 86 move in synchronism with their associated striker arms. Spaced slots 92 and 94 are formed in base plate 58 to accommodate the relative movement of the striker pins passing through the base plate. Each of the opposite ends of the base plate is formed with an aperture 96, 98 by which the assembly can be secured by suitable fastening means (not shown) to the openable frame of a glazed frame assembly and each of the striker arms 34 and 36 is formed with an outboard slot 100 and 102, respectively, so that the striker arms can move without being hindered by the base plate fastening means.

The outboard ends of each of the striker arms 34 and 36 include studs 104 and 106, respectively, by which the striker arms can be connected to a shoot bolt illustrated in Figure 5a. The shoot bolt 114 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 6a and 6b which shows the bolt 116 and aperture 118 to receive one of the studs 104, 106. Slot 120 can be optionally included to co-operate with guide means (not shown).

A corner housing 122 is provided at each end of the window frame and is illustrated in greater detail in Figures 7a, 7b and 7c. Fixing apertures 124, 126, 128 are provided to enable the corner housing 122 to be fixed to the window frame. The shoot bolt passes through the corner housing by means of guide aperture 130.

End striker plates 132, shown in detail in Figures 8a, 8b and & , are provided at each end of the window frame surround, being provided with a recessed area 134 to receive the shoot bolt when the mechanism and shoot bolt moves to a locked position. Fixing apertures 135a,b are provided to fix the end striker plate 132 to the window surround.

Besides the narrow profile of this shoot bolt gear assembly, the provision of closely spaced striker pins is particularly advantageous. This is because it is possible to mount the assembly centrally along one limb of a window frame whereby the correct location of a central keeper plate can be predicted and pre-assembled (see figures 5b, Sc and 5d). Moreover, the close spacing of the striker pins provides a more secure fastening since less leverage can be applied to the assembly in the vicinity of the striker pins by an unauthorised person attempting to wrench loose the assembly from the frame. A central striker plate 14a is shown in more detail in Figures 9a, 9b and 9c of the drawings.

In this arrangement, the striker pins enter the striker plate through openings 136 when the operating handle is in an unlocked position and shifted upon locking into recessed areas 138, 140. As illustrated in Figure Sc, the lip 142, of striker pins 84, 86 are interlocked with the lips 144a, 144b of the central striker plate 14a. Recessed areas 146 and 148 in the central striker plate and second recessed area 150 in the end striker plates 132 provide a second locked position, ie. for night time ventilation.

The configuration of the striker plate permits a particularly secure fastening because the striker pins, when in the locked position are arrested by abutment with a surface of the striker plate in all three dimensional planes.

Claims

1. A mechanism for operating a double acting shoot bolt espagnolette in a glazed panel assembly comprises drive transmitting means adapted to be actuated by an operating mechanism for opening and closing an openable frame of the assembly, said drive transmitting means being operable to cause a pair of shoot bolt operating arms to be moved substantially simultaneously in opposite directions to one another, said drive transmitting means being disposed generally in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of said shoot bolt operating arms and having actuating means, by which drive is supplied to said drive transmitting means, disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of said shoot bolt operating arms.

2. A mechanism for operating double acting striker pins in a glazed panel assembly comprises drive transmitting means adapted to be actuated by an operating mechanism for opening and closing an openable frame of the assembly, said drive transmitting means being operable to cause a pair of striker pins to be moved substantially simultaneously in opposite directions to one another, said drive transmitting means being disposed generally in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of said striker pins and having actuating means by which drive is supplied to said drive transmitting means, disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of said striker pins.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each of said shoot bolt operating arms carries a shoot bolt movable by and in substantially the same plane as the associated shoot bolt operating arm.

4. A mechanism according to any of the preceding claims wherein said actuating means comprises rotatable elements and wherein each of said shoot bolt operating arms is connected to said drive transmitting means, said actuating means being rotatable simultaneously to extend and retract said arms relative to a housing in which said rotatable elements are disposed.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said drive transmitting means comprises a slidable member driven by said rotatable element, which is rotated by movement of an operating handle and/or actuating means.

6. A mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said slidable member includes a toothed rack driven by a gear which is rotatable by said operating handle and/or actuating means.

7. A mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said slidable member transmits drive to one of said shoot bolt operating arms directly and to other of said shoot bolt operating arms by means of a further gear which co-operates with a toothed rack provided by said other of the shoot bolt operating arms.

8. In a glazed panel assembly having fixed and openable frames a mechanism according to any of the preceding claims wherein said drive transmitting means is disposed in the openable frame of the assembly for co-operation with the fixed frame to secure and release the openable frame relative to the fixed frame, said actuating means extending into the openable frame below the glazing chamber thereof.

9. In a glazed panel assembly having fixed and openable frames, a mechanism according to any of the preceding claims wherein when the openable frames are in a closed position said striker pins are secured in the fixed frame by means of a plate adapted to restrict movement of said striker pins in all three dimensional planes.