GB2434399A

GB2434399A - Locking system with adjustable bolt

Info

Publication number: GB2434399A
Application number: GB0601121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Billingham
Original assignee: ERA PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ERA PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-01-19
Filing date: 2006-01-19
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-19
Also published as: GB2434399B; GB0601121D0

Abstract

A locking system has an elongate locking member moveable on a first surface by a mechanism in a direction parallel to said surface between locked and unlocked positions. A locking bolt 11 is carried by the locking member for engagement with a keep 12 on second surface parallel to the first surface. The locking bolt 11 had a head 19 spaced from the locking member 11 in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the locking member 11 and engagement behind a flange 13 on the keep 12 in the locked position. The spacing of the head 19 from the locking member 11 is adjustable. The bolt 11 may comprise a threaded bolt 20, a root 17 and a head 18, with bodies 18 of differing lengths insertable between the root and head to adjust the length of the bolt. The locking system may comprise an espagnolette mechanism.

Description

LOCKING SYSTEM

The invention relates to locking systems and also relates to espagnolette mechanisms incorporating such locking systems and to a part for a locking system.

A known locking system comprises an elongate locking member movable on a first surface by a mechanism in a direction parallel to said surface between locked and unlocked positions. A locking bolt is carried by the locking member for engagement with a keep on a second surface parallel to but spaced from said surface. The locking bolt has a head spaced from the locking member in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the locking member and engageable behind a flange of the keep in said locked position. In an espagnolette mechanism, the elongate locking member is a drive bar, the mechanism is a drive mechanism, the first surface is an edge of a window or door frame and the second surface is an edge of a window or door leaf carrying the keep.

It is sometimes the case that the spacing between the first surface and the second surface varies. In the case where the surfaces are a window frame and a window leaf this can be caused by variations in the fitting of the leaf into the frame. In the past, such variations have been accommodated by adjusting the position of the two surfaces relative to one another or by adjusting the position of the locking member.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a locking system comprising an elongate locking member movable on a first surface by a mechanism in a direction parallel to said surface between locked and unlocked positions, a locking bolt carried by the locking member for engagement with a keep on a second surface parallel to but spaced from said first surface, the locking bolt having a head spaced from said locking member in a direction normal the direction of movement of the locking member and engageable behind a flange on the keep in said locked position, the spacing of the head from the locking member being adjustable.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an espagnolette mechanism comprising a drive mechanism driving a locking system according to the first aspect of the invention, the locking member comprising an elongate drive bar.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising a locking bolt for a locking system having a head spaced from the root, and means for changing said spacing.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a partial view of a drive member of an espagnolette mechanism carrying a locking bolt partially engaged in a keep, and Figure 2 shows, to the left, the locking bolt of Figure 1 in assembled condition and, to the right, the locking of Figure 1 in a disassembled configuration.

Referring to the drawings, an espagnolette mechanism includes a drive mechanism (not shown) operable by a handle (not shown) to drive two drive bars, one of which is shown at 10 in Figure 1. The drive bar 10 is formed from an elongate strip of metal and carries a locking bolt 11 that will be described in more detail below.

The system also includes a keep 12. The keep 12 is formed from a generally rectangular metal plate and includes a flange 13 defining an elongate slot 14 provided with a gap 15. The keep 12 is provided with mounting holes 16.

Referring next to Figure 2, the locking bolt 11 comprises a root 17, a body 18, a head 19 and a bolt 20. The root 17 has a generally cylindrical outer surface. A threaded hole 21 extends from one end of the root 17. The opposite end of the root is of rectangular cross-section.

The body 18, in the locking bolt 11 shown in Figure 2, is formed by two similar generally cylindrical washer-like spacer members 22a, 22b. Each spacer member 22a, 22b is provided with a central hole 23.

The head 19 has an outer surface with a generally cylindrical portion 24 and an inwardly converging bevelled portion 25. An axially extending hole 26 is provided through the head 19 surrounded by a counter-sunk portion 27. The bolt 20 extends through the hole 26 in the head 19, through the spacer members 22a, 22b and threadedly engages in the hole 21 in the bolt 20. The axial lengths of the spacer members 22a, 22b determine the distance between the root 17 and the head 19.

The locking bolt 11 is fixed to the drive bar 10 by passing the square section portion of the root 18 through a slot in the drive bar 10 and then fixing the locking bolt 11 to the drive bar 10 by, for example, a bolt (not shown). The locking bolt 11 is thus held with its axis extending in a direction normal to the length of the drive bar 10.

In use, the espagnolette mechanism is connected to a door or window in which a generally rectangular leaf is mounted for movement into and out of a generally rectangular frame for opening and closing movement into and out of the frame. The drive mechanism and the drive bars are mounted on the frame with each drive bar 10 extending along a surface of the frame lying in a plane generally normal to the plane of the frame.

The keep 12 is mounted on a surface of the leaf that, when the leaf is closed into the frame, is parallel to, but spaced from, the frame surface carrying the drive bar 10. The drive bar 10 is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the locking bolt 11 is aligned with the gap 15 in the keep 12 so that, as the leaf is closed into the frame, the locking bolt 11 passes through the gap 15 into alignment with the slot 14. If the drive mechanism is then operated to move the drive bar 10 to the locking position, the locking bolt 11 moves along the slot 14 so that the head 19 engages behind the flange 13. This locks the leaf to the frame. Unlocking movement of the drive bar 10 realigns the locking bolt 11 with the gap 15 allowing the leaf again to be opened out of the frame.

It will be appreciated that the spacing between the frame surface mounting the drive bar and the leaf surface mounting the keep will not be the same in every case. in order to accommodate this, it is possible to change to spacing of the head 19 above the drive bar 10. This is achieved by unscrewing the bolt 20 to disassemble the locking bolt 11. The spacing can then be changed by, for example, removing a spacer member 22a or inserting an additional spacer member or members. This additional spacer member or additional spacer members can be identical to one of the spacer members 22a, 22b or can have a different axial length.

In this way, it is ensured that, when the locking bolt 11 enters the gap 15 and is aligned with the slot 14, the head 19 will pass behind the flange 13. If the head 19 is not spaced sufficiently far from the drive bar 10, the head 19 will hit the entrance to the slot 14 and will not enter the slot 14. If the head 19 is spaced too far from the drive bar 10, it may hit the base of the recess provided behind the slot 14 in the leaf member.

It will be appreciated that the length of the locking bolt 11 need not be varied by adding or removing spacer members 22a, 22b. A series of spacer members of different lengths could be provided and only a single spacer member of appropriate length be used. It will also be appreciated that the spacer members 22a, 22b and the root 17 or the head 19 could be provided in one piece and a number of such one piece elements in different lengths provided. The bolt 20 need not engage through the head 19; it could engage through the root 17.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A locking system comprising an elongate locking member movable on a first surface by a mechanism in a direction parallel to said surface between locked and unlocked positions, a locking bolt carried by the locking member for engagement with a keep on a second surface parallel to but spaced from said first surface, the locking bolt having a head spaced from said locking member in a direction normal the direction of movement of the locking member and engageable behind a flange on the keep in said locked position, the spacing of the head from the locking member being adjustable.

2. A locking system according to claim 1 wherein the locking bolt comprises a root connected to the locking member and a body between the root and the head, the length of the body being adjustable.

3. A locking system according to claim 2 wherein the head is connected to the root by a threaded member, the body being held between the root and the head, the head and the body being demountable from the root to allow the

introduction of bodies of differing length.

4. A locking device according to claim 3 wherein the body is formed from two or more components, the length of the body being changed by removal of a body of a first length and replacement by a body of a second different length.

5. A locking device according to claim 3 wherein the body is formed from two or more components, the length of the body being changed by the removal

or introduction of components.

6. A locking member according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the head is an annular member with a bevelled outer surface for engagement with the flange.

7. A locking member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. An espagnolette mechanism comprising a drive mechanism driving a locking system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the locking member comprising an elongate drive bar.

9. An espagnolette mechanism according to claim 8 driving two locking systems according to any one of claims 1 to 7, each locking member comprising an elongate drive bar.

10. As espagnolette mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A kit of parts comprising a locking bolt for a locking system having a head spaced from a root, and means for changing said spacing.

12. A kits of parts according to claim 11 wherein the head is connected to the root by a threaded member, a body being held between the root and the head, the changing means comprising at least one further body of a length different to the length of the first mentioned body, the head and the body being demountable from the root to allow the body to be replaced by the at least one further body.

13. A kit of parts according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the head is connected to the root by a threaded member, a body being held between the root and the head, the changing means comprising at least one further body, the head and the body being demountable from the root to allow the insertion of the at least one further body, with the body, between the head and the root.

14. A kit of parts according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the body is a hollow tubular member.

15. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the at least one further body is a hollow tubular member.

16. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.