GB2323122A

GB2323122A - Double shoot bolt fastening

Info

Publication number: GB2323122A
Application number: GB9805266A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Stanley Hickson; Tracy Dain Fletcher; Michael Andrew Hill
Original assignee: NT WORCESTER PARSONS Ltd
Current assignee: NT WORCESTER PARSONS Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-14
Filing date: 1998-03-13
Publication date: 1998-09-16
Also published as: GB9705330D0; GB9805266D0

Abstract

A shoot bolt fastening for windows or doors comprises a pair of oppositely movable bolts 30,49 which are caused to be moved into and out of operative engagement with keeper means by turning an operating handle eg by a drive gear engagement at 17. An espagnolette rail 5 adapted to be secured at a edge of the window or door is linearly movable reciprocally by operation of the handle, first 6 and second 7 elongate slide members adapted to being attached to the espagnolette rail 5 at 25, 25' to share the linear movement of the rail 5. The second and third slide slide members 7 and a third slide member 8 have elongate racks 4,5 which mesh with a pinion 9 so that the third slide member 8 (and bolt 49) is caused to be moved in the opposite direction to the first slide member 6 (and bolt 30). The members 6 and 7 have teeth to engage toothed portions 25, 25' of rail 5.

Description

SHOOT BOLT FASTENING FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS This invention relates to a shoot bolt fastening for windows or doors of the kind comprising a pair of oppositely movable bolts adapted to be mounted on a sliding or hinged window or door, and being caused to be moved into and out of operative engagement with keeper means by turning an operating handle so as to lock the window or door at an edge or edges thereof. Such a shoot bolt fastening will hereinafter be referred to as a "shoot bolt fastening of the kind described".

Shoot bolt fastenings of the kind described are often mounted within a part of the window or door. This requires a recess or hole to be provided in the window or door, which, if done on site, adds to the time and work necessary to fit the shoot bolt fastening. It would obviously be desirable to mount the shoot bolt fastening in such a way that fitting and maintenance thereof could be more easily carried out.

Another problem encountered with some shoot bolt fastenings is that in order to accommodate windows or doors of various sizes and designs, components of the shoot bolt fastening may have to be modified, e.g. in length or made in a variety of forms and sizes. For some shoot bolt fastening components such modification is not easily achieved or requires such a number of variations that the range of parts needed to be made for adaptation of these fastenings to different window and door systems adds appreciably to manufacturing requirements and production costs. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a shoot bolt fastening which can be used with a variety of windows and doors.

According to the present invention a shoot bolt fastening of the kind described is provided comprising an espagnolette rail adapted to be secured at an edge of a window or door and which is linearly movable reciprocally by operation of an operating handle, first and second elongate slide members adapted to be mounted on the edge of the window or door for sliding movement along the edge and being attached to the espagnolette rail so that linear movement of the rail causes linear movement of the slide members, a pinion adapted to be mounted for rotation on the edge, and a third slide member adapted to be mounted on the edge of the window or door for sliding movement along the edge, the second and third slide members having elongate racks which mesh with the pinion such that when the second slide member is moved linearly the third slide member is caused to be moved in the opposite direction from the first slide member.

The shoot bolt fastening may include a pinion housing adapted to be secured to the edge of the window or door, a pinion rotatably mounted in the housing and rotated by the operating handle and an elongate rack member which meshes with the pinion is slidably guided by the pinion housing and is captive with the, or part of, the espagnolette rail. Rotation of the handle causes linear movement of the rack member which in turn causes reciprocal linear movement of the rail.

The first and third slide members may be adapted to extend along the edge of the window or door to opposite ends of that edge where end portions of the slide members form bolt portions for locking engagement with keeper means on a fixed frame of the window or door adjacent to those ends of the edge when the window or door is shut.

In another arrangement the slide members may have or carry bolt parts which project from the members transversely of the directions of linear movement of the slide members for engagement with keeper means, on a fixed frame or another co-operating window or door, adjacent to intermediate parts of the edge of the window or door. The espagnolette rail may have or carry bolt parts as above. The transversely projecting bolt parts may be in addition to or instead of the aforementioned bolt portions formed by end portions of the second and third slide members.

In either of these arrangements the window or door to which the shoot bolt fastening is fitted for use may be slidable or hinged.

The first and second slide members may be attached to the espagnolette rail by attachment means. The attachment means may be provided on the first and second slide members and/or on the rail. The attachment means may comprise a serrated section at one end of the rail, which has teeth provided along at least one longitudinal edge thereof, which teeth are adapted to mate with complementary teeth provided in a carrier fixed to the first or second slide member, thereby attaching the rail to the slide member. The carriers may be further provided with spring clips to help retain the serrated section of the rail in the carriers. The other end of the rail may be similarly attached to a slide member.

Preferably the pinion housing, referred to above, the handle-operated pinion in the housing and the elongate rack member are in accordance with such parts of the espagnolette mechanism which is the subject of GB Patent 2 222 849B, the rack member being slidably guided between opposed walls of the pinion housing one of which is formed with an elongate flange slidably received in a recess formed in the rack member, the flange and recess extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the espagnolette rail, the rail being held captive to the rack member by at least two connectors spaced along the rack member, and the housing being devoid of portions which extend around the espagnolette rail for guiding purposes. The housing, handle operated pinion, rack member and rail may all be pre-assembled as a unit for fitting to a window or door.

The second and third slide members conveniently have parallel portions at which the racks are provided for engagement with the associated pinion. The two slide members may be of strip form of a common width generally and have reduced width portions at which the racks are provided. In this arrangement the racks and pinion are preferably contained for compactness within the common general widths of the second and third slide members, and the second and third slide members are aligned for their linear movement. In another arrangement the second and third slide members are again of strip form and in the main are in alignment for their linear movement but at least one of the second and third slide members has a cranked portion at which its rack is provided.

The slide members are suitably guided in their linear movement.

They may, for example, have longitudinally extending slots in them, engaged by guide pegs, pins or the like which are fixed on the window or door to which the shoot bolt fastening is fitted for use. The guide pegs, pins or the like may be fixed to a plate which is adapted to be secured to the edge of the window or door. Each slide member may be adapted to be secured between the edge of the window or door and such a plate, or may be secured on top of such a plate. In the latter case, a further plate may be provided on top of the slide member to secure it to the first plate. The or each plate may be provided with a locating portion extending from the edge of the plate furthest from the espagnolette rail, which locating portion is substantially perpendicular to the length of the plate, and is adapted to engage and be located to an edge section of the window or door extending substantially perpendicularly from the edge to which the shoot bolt fastening is mounted for use.

A window or door to which the shoot bolt fastening is to be fitted for use may be formed with a recess or opening at its respective edge to receive the pinion housing referred to, if provided. This may be done in the course of production of the window or door, or on site. A channel or channels may be formed along the edge to receive the rail and slide members. A cover plate or plates may be provided which are adapted to be secured over the or each channel to enclose the rail and slide members.

The or each cover plate may be provided with a locating portion as above.

The channel may be of such width as to restrain movement of the rail and first, second and third slide members in a direction perpendicular to their linear movement, thereby preventing the racks provided on the second and third slide members disengaging from the associated pinion.

Alternatively, one or more projections may be provided on the second and third slide members in proximity to each rack which are adapted to locate in guide means whereby such perpendicular movement is prevented. The guide means may comprise slots formed in one or more plates adapted to be secured to the edge of the window or door, the slots being elongated such that the linear movement of the slide members is unimpeded. The slide members may be adapted to be secured between the edge of the window or door and the or each plate with the projections projecting outwards to locate in the slots. Alternatively the slide members may be secured on top of the or each plate with the projections projecting inwards to locate in the slots. A further plate or plates may be provided on top of the slide members to secure them to the first plate or plates. The or each further plate may similarly be provided with elongate slots for the locating of further projections on the second and third slide members. All or any of the plates may be provided with locating portions.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a side view of a pinion housing and espagnolette rail of a shoot bolt fastening in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the espagnolette rail of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a first slide member and a plate of the shoot bolt fastening; Figure 4 is a front view of the first slide member and plate of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a rear view of the first slide member and plate of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a side view of a second and third slide member and plates of the shoot bolt fastening; Figure 7 is a front view of the second and third slide members and plates of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a rear view of the second and third slide members and plates of Figure 6, with the inner plate removed; Figure 9 is a side view of an assembled shoot bolt fastening; Figure 10 is a front view of the shoot bolt fastening of Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a rear view of the shoot bolt fastening of Figure 9.

The shoot bolt fastening essentially comprises a pinion housing 2, a first pinion 3, rack member 4, espagnolette rail 5, first slide member 6, second and third slide members 7 and 8 respectively and a second pinion 9. The shoot bolt fastening is mounted for use on the edge of a window or door, e.g. a sliding patio door, and is operated by a handle attached to the first pinion 3.

Pinion housing 2, first pinion 3 and rack member 4 are of the form described and illustrated in GB Patent Specification 2 222 849 B. The pinion housing 2 is of relatively thin oblong box form comprising a diecast housing shell 10 and sheet metal housing closure plate 11 retained to the shell by shouldered tubular spigots 12. The spigots 12 receive respective mounting screws, not shown, for fixing the housing in the edge of a window or door for use. First pinion 3 which is die-cast, is rotatably mounted in the housing 2 by projecting ends of a hub 13 engaged in bearing holes 14 in the closure plate 11 and on opposite wall of the shell 10. A square axial bore 15 through the hub 13 receives a conventional spindle of the handle.

The rack member 4 is also die-cast and is elongated with rack teeth 16 along one side, with which the first pinion 3 meshes, and three longitudinally spaced apart lugs 17 on the opposite side which are staked in respective holes in the espagnolette rail. At opposite ends the rack member 5 has upstanding guide projections 18 which are a sliding fit between the closure plate 11 and an opposite wall of the shell 10 and between opposite end walls of the housing provided by the shell. An elongate guide flange 19 along a longer edge of the shell engages with a complementary corner recess 20 of the rack member adjacent to, and extending lengthwise of, the espagnolette rail. The corner recess 20 extends for the full length of the rack member, the guide flange 19 being slidably trapped between the espagnolette rail and an opposed face of the corner recess to resist twisting of the rack member and espagnolette rail relative to the housing.

Turning the handle rotates the first pinion 3 which moves the rack member 4 and espagnolette rail 5 linearly relatively to the pinion housing.

The handle may be lockable against turning.

The espagnolette rail has a middle section to which the pinion housing is attached, and two end sections 25, 25' having teeth to allow attachment of the rail to the first and second slide members.

The espagnolette rail has a flanged lateral bolt part 26 fixed to it, at an intermediate part of its length. The bolt part 26 projects from one face of the rail and is arranged to be engageable in use with a keeper opposite the edge of the window or door to which the shoot bolt fastening is fitted, the keeper being on a fixed frame member which the window or door closes, or on another associated window or door. Each of the slide members may have such a bolt part.

The first slide member 6 (Figures 3 and 5) comprises an elongate metal strip, one end of which is symmetrically narrowed down to form a bolt portion 30. At the other end the slide member is provided with attachment means in the form of a carrier 31 which is fixed to the slide member by a rivet 32. The carrier is substantially hollow and is provided with teeth (not shown) on its inner longitudinal surfaces. These teeth are complementary to those on the espagnolette rail 5 with which they are meshed to attach the slide member to the rail. The end section 25 of the rail 5 is retained in the carrier 31 by a spring clip 33. The first slide member 6 is secured to a plate 34 by rivets 35 which, in turn, are attached to support pieces 36 which hold the slide member to the plate.

The slide member is provided with elongated slots 37, through which the rivets 35 pass, and linear movement of the slide member is unimpeded.

The plate 34 is provided with locating means 38. In use, the plate is secured to a first edge of e.g. a door such that the slide member lies between the plate and the door, and the locating means is located on and fixed to an edge of the door perpendicular to the first edge. The plate 34 has a hole 39 through which the bolt portion 30 may pass when the handle is turned to operate the shoot bolt fastening.

The second and third slide members 7 and 8 are substantially similar to each other, as best seen in Figure 8. Each is made of metal strip. At one end each of the members is reduced in width, by cutting away from one side of the strip, and is formed with teeth along the inner edge of the reduced width portion to provide a rack 45. In the assembled shoot bolt fastening the second and third slide members 7 and 8 are arranged in alignment with their racks 45 adjacent in opposed, spaced, parallel relationship, as shown in Figure 8. The second pinion 9, which is conveniently manufactured from metal, for example steel, is positioned between and in mesh with the two racks 45. Attachment means in the form again of a carrier 46 is fixed by means of a rivet 47 at the other end of the second slide member. The rail is attached to the carrier 46 of the second slide member in the same way as it is attached to the carrier of the first slide member. A spring clip 48 retains the rail and second slide member in engagement as before. At the other end of the third slide member the member is symmetrically narrowed down to form a bolt portion 49.

The second and third slide members 7,8 are provided with elongated slots 50, and shoulders 51 formed adjacent to the racks 45 (Figure 8). The shoulders are provided with pressed indent spigots 52, which project substantially perpendicularly from both faces of the slide members. The slide members are secured between first 53 and second 54 plates, and the entire assembly is secured for use to a first edge of e.g. a door such that the plate 53 is outermost. The slide members are secured between the plates such that the securing means (not shown) pass through the elongated slots 50 in the slide members, and linear movement of the members along the length of the door on operation of the handle 4 is unimpeded. The outer plate 53 has locating means 55. When the slide members and plates are secured to the first edge of the door, the locating means is located on and fixed to an edge of the door perpendicular to the first edge, and opposite to the edge to which the locating means 38 of the plate 34 is fixed. The plate 53 has a hole 56 through which the bolt portion 49 may pass when the handle is turned to operate the shoot bolt fastening.

The first and second plates 53,54 are provided with slots 57 (Figure 7), and on securing the slide members 7,8 to these plates the spigots 52 locate in the slots (Figure 7). The slots 57 are elongated in the direction parallel to the length of the slide members such that the movement of the members along the length of the door is again unimpeded. However, in a direction perpendicular to the length of the door, the slots are of such width as to restrain lateral movement of the spigots and therefore of the slide members (Figure 7). In this way, the racks 45 remain in engagement with the second pinion 9.

An assembled shoot bolt fastening is shown in Figures 9 to 11 as applied to the edge of a door, for example a sliding patio door, by way of example only. The door has a frame of tubular extruded plastics members and slides in a surrounding fixed frame. The fastening is fitted to a frame member 60 of the door which provides the upright leading edge of the door. A recess (not shown) is formed in that frame member, conveniently near the centre of the height of the door, to receive the pinion housing 2 behind a front wall 61 of the frame member, and the housing is secured by mounting screws engaged in plain holes, not shown, in the front wall and tightened into the spigots 12. The components of the shoot bolt fastening are secured to the leading edge 60 of the door as previously described. The first slide member 6 extends to one or other of the top and bottom edges of the door so that its bolt portion 30 is adjacent that edge to be shot into a keeper, not shown, in the fixed frame. The third slide member 8 extends to the other edge of the door in alignment with the first slide member 6 for its bolt portion 49 to be shot into another keeper, not shown, in the fixed frame.

The flanged bolt part 26 on the espagnolette rail 5 projects from the leading edge of the door for engagement with a further keeper, not shown, in the fixed frame.

When the handle, attached to the first pinion 3, is turned the espagnolette rail is linearly moved by the interaction of the first pinion and rack member. The movement of the rail causes movement of the first and second slide members in the same direction. Movement of the second slide member rotates the second pinion 9 which in turn moves the third slide member in the opposite direction. Thus the bolt portions and bolt part are shot or withdrawn simultaneously by operation of the one handle.

The shoot bolt fastening may be secured onto the leading edge of the door, or may be placed in a shallow channel formed during extrusion of the frame member in the face of a side wall of the frame member at the leading edge. The channel extends for the length of the side wall to the top and bottom edges of the door. The channel is of sufficient width such that movement of the racks 45 of the second and third slide members in a direction perpendicular to the length of the channel is restrained. The teeth of the racks 45 therefore remain in engagement with the teeth of the second pinion 9.

Claims

1. A shoot bolt fastening of the kind described comprising an espagnolette rail adapted to be secured at an edge of a window or door and which is linearly movable reciprocally by operation of an operating handle, first and second elongate slide members adapted to be mounted on the edge of the window or door for sliding movement along the edge and being attached to the espagnolette rail so that linear movement of the rail causes linear movement of the slide members, a pinion adapted to be mounted for rotation on the edge, and a third slide member adapted to be mounted on the edge of the window or door for sliding movement along the edge, the second and third slide members having elongate racks which mesh with the pinion such that when the second slide member is moved linearly the third slide member is caused to be moved in the opposite direction from the first slide member.

2. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 1 which includes a pinion housing adapted to be secured to the edge of the window or door, a pinion rotatably mounted in the housing and rotated by the operating handle, and an elongate rack member which meshes with the pinion and is slidably guided by the pinion housing and is captive with the, or part of, the espagnolette rail, such that rotation of the handle causes linear movement of the rack member which in turn causes reciprocal linear movement of the rail.

3. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first and third slide members are adapted to extend along the edge of the window or door to opposite ends of that edge where end portions of the slide members form bolt portions for locking engagement with keeper means on a fixed frame of the window or door adjacent to those ends of the edge when the window or door is shut.

4. A shoot bolt fastening according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the slide members have or carry bolt parts which project from the members transversely of the directions of linear movement of the slide members for engagement with keeper means on a fixed frame or another co-operating window or door adjacent to intermediate parts of the edge of the window or door.

5. A shoot bolt fastening according to any preceding claim in which the espagnolette rail has or carries one or more bolt parts which project from the rail transversly of the direction of linear movement of the rail for engagement with keeper means on a fixed frame or another cooperating window or door adjacent to intermediate parts of the edge of the window or door.

6. A shoot bolt fastening according to any preceding claim in which the first and second slide members are attached to the espagnolette rail by attachment means.

7. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 6 in which the attachment means is provided on the first and second slide members.

8. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 6 in which the attachment means is provided on the rail.

9. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 6 in which the attachment means is provided on the first and second slide members and on the rail.

10. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 9 in which the attachment means comprises a serrated section at each end of the rail, each serrated section having teeth provided along at least one longitudinal edge thereof, which teeth are adapted to mate with complementary teeth provided in a carrier fixed to each of the first and second slide members, thereby attaching the rail to the slide members.

11. A shoot bolt fastening according to any preceding claim in which the second and third slide members have parallel portions at which the racks are provided for engagement with the associated pinion.

12. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 11 in which the slide members are of strip form of a generally common width and have reduced width portions at which the racks are provided.

13. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 12 in which the racks and pinion are contained within the common general widths of the second and third slide members, and the second and third slide members are aligned for their linear movement.

14. A shoot bolt fastening according to any of claims 1 to 10 in which the second and third slide members are of strip form and in the main are in alignment for their linear movement and at least one of the second and third slide members has a cranked portion at which its rack is provided.

15. A shoot bolt fastening according to any preceding claim in which the slide members have longitudinally extending slots which engage guide pegs, pins or the like, to guide them in their linear movement.

16. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 15 in which the guide pegs, pins or the like are fixed to a plate which is adapted to be secured to the edge of the window or door.

17. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 16 in which each slide member is adapted to be secured between the edge of the window or door and the plate.

18. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 16 in which each slide member is secured on top of the plate.

19. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 18 in which a further plate is provided on top of the slide member whereby the slide member is secured to the first plate.

20. A shoot bolt fastening according to any of claims 16 to 19 in which the or each plate is provided with a locating portion extending from the edge of the plate furthest from the espagnolette rail, which locating portion is substantially perpendicular to the length of the plate, and is adapted to engage and be located to an edge section of the window or door extending substantially perpendicularly from the edge to which the shoot bolt fastening is mounted for use.

21. A shoot bolt fastening according to any preceding claim in which a cover plate or plates is provided adapted to be secured over a channel or channels when formed along the edge of a window or door to which the fastening is secured for use to receive the rail and slide members, the plate or plates enclosing the rail and slide members therein.

22. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 26 in which the or each cover plate is provided with a locating portion.

23. A shoot bolt fastening according to any of claims 1 to 20 in which one or more projections are provided on the second and third slide members in proximity to each rack, being adapted to locate in guide means whereby movement of the second and third slide members in a direction perpendicular to their linear movement is prevented.

24. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 23 in which the guide means comprises slots formed in one or more plates adapted to be secured to the edge of the window or door, the slots being elongated such that the linear movement of the slide members is unimpeded.

25. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 24 in which the slide members are adapted to be secured between the edge of the window or door and the or each plate with the projections projecting outwards to locate in the slots.

26. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 24 in which the slide members are secured on top of the or each plate with the projections projecting inwards to locate in the slots.

27. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 26 in which a further plate or plates is provided on top of the slide members to secure them to the first plate or plates.

28. A shoot bolt fastening according to claim 27 in which the or each further plate is provided with elongate slots for the locating of further projections on the second and third slide members.

29. A shoot bolt fastening according to any of claims 24 to 28 in which the or each plate is provided with a locating portion.

30. A shoot bolt fastening as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.