GB2362424A

GB2362424A - Window lock

Info

Publication number: GB2362424A
Application number: GB0011911A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giovanni Maria Laporta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-17
Filing date: 2000-05-17
Publication date: 2001-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-17
Also published as: GB2362424B; GB0011911D0

Abstract

A window lock 40 comprises an espagnolette locking mechanism 42 a first shootbolt unit 44 and second shootbolt unit 46. A slider 50 of the espagnolette mechanism drives the first shootbolt unit 44 to move in the same direction of movement as the slider 50 of the espagnolette mechanism. The second shootbolt unit 46 comprises a counter movement gearbox 86 to drive the locking bolt in an opposite direction of movement to the slider of the espagnolette mechanism 42. The invention permits an espagnolette mechanism to be used in a shootbolt arrangement.

Description

2362424 1 WINDOW LOCK This invention relates to a window lock. The

invention is especially suitable for use in PVC-U window assemblies, but it is applicable for any type of window assembly.

There are many types of lock for leafs in frames. Generally locks for windows have developed separately from locks for doors. Door locks are generally of a latching type, whereas window locks are generally of a nonlatching type. Also, window sashes tend to be smaller than corresponding glazed door sashes, which means that there is 10 window sash for a lock assembly.

considerably less room in a Modem window locks are commonly of two types. Referring to Fig. 1, the first type is the espagnolette lock system in which locking bobbins 10 project from the edge of the window sash on which the handle 12 is located. The locking bobbins 10 are mounted on a slider 14 carried behind a front plate 16, and the slider 14 passes through a relatively straightforward handle mechanism 18. When the handle is operated, the slider 14 is displaced causing the bobbins to move in the direction indicated by arrows 20 between a locking position and a non locking position. Since the bobbins 10 are mounted on the same slider member 14, the bobbins always move together in the same direction, and the entire mechanism is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Referring to Fig. 2, the second type of system is the shootbolt system which generally provides better security than the espagnolette system. The shootbolt includes two oppositely extending locking bolts 22 and 24 located at the comers of the window sash carrying the handle 26. A handle gearbox mechanism 30 includes two integral arms 28 and drives the arms in opposite directions from movement of the handle 26. The arms 28 are coupled to the bolts 22 and 24, to drive the bolts in opposite directions, between a locking position in which the bolts 22 and 24 project from the opposite edges of the sash, and a non locking position in which the bolts 22 and 24 are retracted into the sash. Such a handle mechanism is generally more 2 complicated and more expensive than the espagnolette system. Also, during fitting, the arms 28 have to be cropped to a correct length to match the size of the window sash. Such cropping is inconvenient, and can also cause less than optimum alignment of the components within the sash.

Moreover, the shootbolt and espagnolette systems are completely incompatible with each other, which means that window manufacturers have to keep a large variety of stock in order to be able to provide either system to meet customer demands.

Furthermore, it is not possible easily to convert from one locking system to the other, because the two locking systems employ completely different components.

The present invention has been devised bearing the above in mind.

Broadly speaking, in contrast to the prior art, one aspect of the present invention provides a window locking system which comprises an espagnolette locking mechanism, a first locking bolt driven by the espagnolette mechanism and movable in the same direction as the locking movement of the espagnolette mechanism, and a second locking bolt driven by the espagnolette mechanism and movable in an opposite direction to the locking movement of the espagnolette mechanism.

Such a system can provide a combination of shootbolt and espagnolette operation, and can also enable the first and second bolts to be driven by a relatively cheap espagnolette mechanism, rather than by a relatively expensive handle gearbox. This can considerably reduce the range of components needed to be stocked by a window manufacturer or fitter. Also, it can enable one type of locking system to be converted to the other relatively easily and without having to replace the entire handle mechanism.

3 In one preferred form, the first and second bolts are contained in first and second units which are removably attachable to the espagnolette mechanism. Preferably, the second unit comprises a counter movement generator to move the second bolt in a direction opposite to the driving movement from the espagnolette mechanism.

In an alternative form, a linear counter-movement generator is used in combination with the espagnolette mechanism, to generate the necessary counter-movement independently of the second bolt unit. This can enable the first and second bolt units to be similar simple-movement units.

Preferably, the espagnolette mechanism is of a non-latching type, in which the position of the slider is directly related to the position of the handle (i.e. without any lost-motion coupling to accommodate latching).

An embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of a prior art espagnolette locking system); (Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a prior art shootbolt locking system);

Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing showing in exploded form the components of a combined espagnolette/shootbolt window locking system; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the system of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front view of the system of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a schematic section through the second bolt of Fig. 3; and 4 Fig. 7 is a schematic drawing showing how the system of Fig. 3 is installed in a window sash; Fig. 8 is a schematic drawing similar to Fig. 7 but showing a second embodiment; Fig. 9 is a schematic front view of the counter-movement generator of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a schematic side view of the counter-movement generator; and Fig. 11 is a schematic end view of the counter-movement generator.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 7, a window locking system 40 comprises three main units, namely an espagnolette locking mechanism 42, a first bolt unit 44, and a second bolt unit 46.

The espagnolette mechanism 42 is similar to that described previously, and includes first and second bobbins 48 mounted on a slider 50 carried behind a faceplate 52. The slider 50 is captively mounted by two mushroom lugs 54 received in slots 56 in the slider 50. The slider 50 is driven by a handle mechanism 58, which may be cam, or rack, or lever driven to convert rotational handle movement to linear slider movement. In the present embodiment, the slider is movable between a non-locking position (in which the handle is generally perpendicular to the slider 50) and a locking position (in which the handle lies generally parallel with the slider 50). Movement of the handle from the non-locking position to the locking position (as indicated by arrow 60) drives the slider 50 in the direction of arrow 62, and opposite movement of the handle drives the slider in the opposite direction. In contrast to a conventional espagnolette mechanism, the end portions of the slider are formed with serrated edges 64 to permit simple attachment of the bolt units 44 and 46.

The first bolt unit 44 comprises a L-shaped comer-mounting member 66 which supports a locking bolt 68 mounted on an angled driving arm 70. The driving arm 70 consists of a slider portion 72 which is captively mounted on the L-shaped member 66 by means of mushroom studs 74 received in elongate slots 76 to permit sliding movement of the bolt 68. The arm 70 also includes a bifurcated linking portion 78 carrying a serrated socket 80 engageable with the serrated end portion of the espagnolette slider 50. In use, the locking bolt of the first bolt unit 44 is driven in the same sense of movement as the espagnolette mechanism. When the espagnolette slider moves in the direction of arrow 62, the bolt 68 is driven in the direction of arrow 82 to extend out of the bolt unit to a locking condition. When the espagnolette slider moves in the opposite direction, the bolt 68 is retracted relative to the bolt unit 44 to a non locking condition.

The second bolt unit 46 comprises an L-shaped comer-mounting member 84 carrying a counter movement gearbox 86, shown in more detail in Fig, 6. The gearbox comprises a first rack 88 coupled by bifurcated arms 90 to a serrated socket 92 for engagement with the serrated portion of the espagnolette slider 50, and second rack 92 coupled to a locking bolt 94. The racks 88 and 92 face each other and are movably connected by gears 96, to produce the counter movement. When the espagnolette slider 50 moves in the direction of arrow 62, the first rack moves in the same direction (indicated by arrow 98), and the second rack 92 is driven in the counter direction (indicated by arrow 100) to extend the locking bolt 94 to a locked condition.

When the espagnolette slider 50 moves in the opposite direction, the second rack is driven in the counter direction to retract the locking bolt 94 to a non-locking condition.

As can be seen in Fig. 6, the first rack 88 is constrained to move linearly by means of mushroom studs 102 between the bifurcated arms 90. Similarly, the second rack 92 is constrained to move linearly by the size of the base 104 of the locking bolt 94 and its surround.

Referring to Fig. 7, the locking system of this embodiment can easily be fitted to a window sash 106 along the leading edge 108 of the sash. Espagnolette mechanisms are 6 commonly manufactured in a range of sizes to suit different sizes of window sash. Therefore, the same bolt units 44 and 46 can be used for any size of sash 106, and a suitable size of espagnolette mechanism 42 chosen for the sash. The serrated connection between the espagnolette slider 50 and the bolt units 44 and 46 enables adjustment of the alignment between the espagnolette mechanism 42 and the bolts units 44 and 46 within a limited tolerance, so that the locking system can be fitted precisely to any sash, without requiring cropping.

A modified second embodiment is shown in Figs 8-11 where appropriate, the same reference numerals are used to denote features equivalent to those described previously.

The main difference in the second embodiment is that the counter-movement gearbox 86' is distinct from the second bolt 46', and is mounted on the espagnolette mechanism 42. This can enable the same type of direct movement component to be used for both the first and second bolt units 44 and 46'.

The counter-movement gearbox 86' of this embodiment (as best seen in Figs. 9-11) comprises a generally U-shaped housing 110 carrying first and second independently movable gears 112. The gears 112 project from the mouth on one side of the housing I 10, so as to co operate with a rack 114 (Fig. 8) forined on the rear of the espagnolette slider 50. The housing 110 includes an extension carrying a mounting aperture 111 to enable the gearbox 86' to be bolted to the espagnolette mechanism 42. During fitting, the housing 110 may, for example, be loosened to allow adjustment of the alignment of the second bolt unit 46' relative to the espagnolette mechanism.

The second bolt unit 46' is provided with a rack 116 on its linking arm 118, the rack being received in the gearbox 8 6' in a space 120 between an edge 122 of the housing I 10 and the two gears 112. The gearbox 86' operates in the same manner as the gearbox 86 of the first embodiment, to drive the second bolt in an opposite direction of movement to that of the espagnolette slider 50.

7 As with the first embodiment, the second embodiment can be fitted to any size of sash using a suitable size of espagnolette mechanisms. The couplings between the bolt units and the espagnolette mechanism permit adjustment of their relative positions before final fixing, without any cropping being required.

It will be appreciated that the invention, particularly as illustrated in the preferred embodiments, can simplify the design of window locking systems by enabling a shootbolt type lock to be combined with an espagnolette mechanism.

It will ffirther be appreciated that the forgoing description is merely illustrative of a preferred form of the invention, and that many modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. Aspects believed to be of particular importance are identified herein and in the claims. However, the Applicant claims protection for any novel feature or idea described herein 15 an/or illustrated in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon.

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Claims

1. A window locking system which comprises an espagnolette locking mechanism, a first locking bolt driven by the espagnolette mechanism and movable in the same direction as the locking movement of the espagnolette mechanism, and a second locking bolt driven by the espagnolette mechanism and movable in an opposite direction to the locking movement of the espagnolette mechanism.

A window locking system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a first bolt unit carrying the first bolt, a second bolt unit carrying the second bolt, and a counter movement generator for moving the second bolt in an opposite direction to the locking movement of the espagnolette.

3. A window locking system according to claim 2, wherein the second bolt unit comprises the counter-movement generator.

4. A window locking system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the counter movement generator comprises a first rack, a second rack and at least one gear between the racks.

A window locking system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein at least one of the locking bolts is coupled directly or indirectly to the espagnolette mechanism by means of complementary mating surfaces.

6. A window locking assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the espagnolette mechanism is of a non-latching type in which the position of the locking movement is directly related to the position of a handle.

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7. A window locking assembly comprising a first unit, a second unit and a third unit, the first unit comprising a handle mechanism, a slider driven by the handle mechanism, and at least one locking projection projecting generally perpendicular to the slider, the second unit comprising a locking bolt extending in a direction generally parallel with the slider and being driven by the slider to move in the same direction as the slider, and the third unit comprising a locking bolt extending in a direction generally parallel with the slider and being driven from the slider to move in an opposite direction of movement to the slider.

8. A window sash comprising a locking assembly as defined in any preceding claim.

9. A window sash according to claim 8, wherein the sash comprises PVC-U material-

10. A window sash according to claim 8 or 9, carrying multiple panes of glazing.

A window assembly comprising a locking mechanism as defined in any of claims 1 to 7.

12. A window locking system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to any of Figs. 3 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.