GB2443043A

GB2443043A - Window stay and locking means

Info

Publication number: GB2443043A
Application number: GB0715143A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Chelton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-03
Filing date: 2007-08-03
Publication date: 2008-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-03
Also published as: GB0715143D0; GB2443043B

Abstract

A window comprises an inner and outer frame; a locking mechanism moveable between an unlocked position in which the inner frame is free to move relative to the outer frame and a locked position in which, when the inner frame is in the closed position. A stay arm 4 is mounted on one or the other of the inner frame or outer frame and is moveable relative to said frame. Movement of the stay arm 4 relative to the inner frame or outer frame causes the locking mechanism to move between the locked and unlocked positions. The stay arm 4 may have a rack 12 and pinion 11 mechanism wherein movement of the stay arm 4 causes movement of the pinion 11 which in turn moves the rack 12 and a metal casement bar 13. The casement bar 13 may extend around the periphery of the frame and is coupled to the locking mechanism. There may be more than one locking mechanism and it/they may comprise at least one shot bolt and/or locking pin.

Description

* 2443043 O 1

WINDOW

This invention relates to a window, and in particular to a locking mechanism for the window and the manner in which the locking mechanism is actuated.

A particularly common type of window comprises a frame on which is hung a glazed casement on two hinges. There are a variety of ways in which such a window may be locked and held in a desired open position, but one common arrangement involves a handle mounted on one side of the window which is pivotable between a position in which it engages with the frame, thereby locking the casement in a closed position, and a position in which the casement may be rotated on the hinges to open it. Such windows are often provided also with a peg stay mounted at the bottom of the casement which is an arm having a series of holes along its length and which can be pivoted such that each of the holes can be brought into engagement with a peg mounted on the frame. The casement can therefore be held in a desired open position by opening the window to that position and engaging one of the holes on the peg stay with the peg on the frame.

One disadvantage with this type of window is that two components are required to operate the window, the locking handle and the peg stay. This leads to increased manufacturing cost and makes maintenance more difficult and costly.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a window comprising an outer frame; an inner frame mounted on the outer frame; a locking mechanism moveable between an unlocked position in which the inner frame is free to move relative to the outer frame between open and closed positions and a locked position in which, when the inner frame is in the closed position, the inner frame is prevented from moving relative to the outer frame; and a stay arm mounted on one or the other of the inner frame or outer frame and being moveable relative to the inner frame or outer frame, the stay arm being capable of engaging a feature mounted on the other of the inner frame or outer frame so as to hold the inner frame in a desired position relative to the outer frame, wherein movement of the stay arm relative to the inner frame or outer frame causes the locking mechanism to move between the locked and unlocked positions. * 2

Hence, by causing the stay arm to move the locking mechanism between locked and unlocked positions as it is moved, the invention allows the stay arm to be used for the purpose of both locking and unlocking the window and holding it in a desired open position. The window therefore does not need a separate locking handle and stay arm, and this reduces the cost of manufacturing and increases the reliability of the window.

The stay arm and locking mechanism in this invention are separate items, and this

specification should be interpreted as such.

Typically, the locking mechanism comprises at least one shoot bolt and/or at least one locking pin, each of which engages in the locked position with a corresponding lock keep.

However, the locking mechanism preferably comprises a pair of shoot bolts for each side of the windowpane.

The locking mechanism may comprise at least one locking pin for each side of the inner frame. However, it preferably comprises a pair of locking pins for each side of the inner frame. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the locking pins move in opposing directions as the locking mechanism moves between the locked and unlocked positions.

With the abovementioned arrangements of shoot bolts and locking pins, it is normal for the at least one shoot bolt and/or at least one locking pin to be mounted on the inner frame and the lock keeps to be mounted on the outer frame. However, in an alternative embodiment, the at least one shoot bolt and/or at least one locking pin are mounted on the outer frame and the lock keeps are mounted on the inner frame.

Although the invention may be used with various types of windows, such as sliding sash windows, it is typically used with casement windows and the inner frame is therefore typically mounted on the outer frame by a pair of hinges. * 3

The outer frame and inner frame may be manufactured from a variety of materials including steel, aluminum or a plastic material.

It is of particular interest to manufacture the windows from aluminum as this is a lightweight but strong material meaning that a slim profile can be adopted.

However, in the past there have been security concerns with such windows relative to steel-framed windows because the aluminum is relatively easy to bend and hence the window can easily be forced open. However, when combined with the above-mentioned type of locking mechanism which acts at more than one point around the inner frame, and preferably on multiple sides of the inner frame, the weakness in the aluminum is overcome because it is held fast in the frame at many points. It therefore leads to a very secure, easily operated and slimline design of window.

Typically, the stay arm is mounted on the inner frame and is provided with one or more holes along its length, each of which is capable of engaging with a peg mounted on the frame.

However, it is equally possible for the stay arm to be mounted on the outer frame and to be provided with one or more holes along its length, each of which is capable of engaging with a peg mounted on the inner frame.

The stay arm is typically rotatable relative to the inner frame or outer frame to which the stay arm is mounted.

In this case, the stay arm may have a pinion which meshes with a rack coupled to the locking mechanism such that rotation of the pinion causes a linear motion of the rack.

In one embodiment, the rack is coupled to the locking mechanism by a pin on the locking mechanism which engages with the rack.

Preferably, the pinion is provided with an untoothed portion which binds the rack, thereby hindering the locking mechanism from moving once it is in the unlocked position.

Typically, this type of rotatable stay arm is rotatable in two perpendicular directions.

Rotation in two perpendicular directions in this way allows the stay arm to be moved over the peg and for one of the holes to be brought into alignment with the peg so that the peg and hole can be brought into engagement.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a window according to the invention; Figure 2 shows details of the stay arm and peg; Figures 3a-3d show details of how the locking mechanism and stay arm interact; Figure 4 shows details of the drive pinion; Figure 5 shows a cross-section through part of the window; and Figure 6 shows a flexible drive member for use with the locking mechanism.

Figure 1 shows a window frame I in which are mounted a fixed window pane 2 and a side hung casement 3. The casement 3 is mounted on frame 1 by means of two hinges on the outside of the frame, which are therefore not visible in Figure 1.

On the casement 3, a stay arm 4 is mounted which cooperates with a peg 6 mounted on the frame I to hold the casement 3 open in a desired position.

A handle 7 is also shown mounted on the casement 3 which can cooperate with a striker plate 8 on the frame 1 in the conventional way. However, it is important to realise that this is not an essential feature of this invention as the locking mechanism is generally fitted around the periphery of the casement 3 as will be described later and is operated by the peg stay 4. Indeed, other embodiments of this invention may comprise a simple static handle or no handle at all. O 5

Figure 2 shows a closer view of the stay arm 4 and peg 6. As can be seen, the stay arm 4 is mounted to the casement 3 by means of a hinge 9a which allows the peg stay to rotate in a horizontal direction such that it can be moved in an arc away from the casement 3. The stay arm 4 is coupled to the hinge 9a by way of another hinge 9b which is oriented at right angles to hinge 9a. This allows the stay arm 4 to be lifted in a vertical direction as well so that it can be moved over peg 6 to allow any one of the holes 1 Oa, 1 Ob and 1 Oc disposed along the length of the stay arm 4 to engage with the peg 6 and thereby hold the casement 3 open in a desired position.

Figure 3a shows a detailed view of the stay arm 4 and how it is coupled to the locking mechanism. In particular, it shows part of a pinion 11 which is coupled to the stay arm 4 and which meshes with a rack 12. Therefore, as pinion 11 rotates, the rack 12 is moved linearly, and this linear motion is imparted to a metal driving bar 13 via a pin 14 which engages with a recess in rack 12. The metal driving bar 13 is coupled to the various locking members around the periphery of the casement 3.

Figure 3b shows a partial cross section in which the pinion 11 can be seen in better detail. In the view of Figure 3b, the window is in the locked configuration. As can be seen, the pinion 11 has a square aperture 15 which accepts a rectangular driving member protruding from the underside of the stay arm 4. As the stay arm 4 rotates, the rectangular driving member causes the pinion 11 to rotate.

Figure 3c shows the results of rotating the stay arm 4 through 90 . As can be seen, the rotation of peg stay 4 has rotated the pinion 11 through 90 via the recangular driving member and this has caused a corresponding linear motion of the rack 12.

The pin 14 is therefore driven in a linear direction and pulls the metal driving bar 13 with it, hence unlocking the window.

Figure 3d shows the situation when the stay arm 4 is driven past the 90 position.

As can be seen, a portion 16 of the pinion which is untoothed frictionally binds the rack 12 hindering movement of the locking mechanism until the stay arm 4 is pushed back to its original position shown in Figure 3a and Figure 3b. Thus, portion 16, when in contact with the rack 12, prevents the locking mechanism from O 6 inadvertently moving due to frictional engagement between the pinion 11 and the rack 12. This is desirable because if the locking mechanism were to move inadvertently when the window was open then it would not be possible to shut the window again without realigning the locking mechanism as the locking pins described below would collide with the locking keeps.

Figure 4 shows how the pinion 11 is manufactured. Specifically, it is manufactured from atop wafer 17 and a bottom wafer 18, both of which are cut from metal (e.g., steel) sheets which are typically two millimetres thick. As can be seen, the top wafer 17 is generally cut to a smaller diameter than the bottom wafer 18 and is provided with a plurality of teeth. The bottom wafer 18 is also provided with corresponding teeth, but due to its generally larger diameter provides the untoothed portion 16.

Figure 5 shows a cross section through some of the components making up the window. In particular, it shows a cross section through the frame 1 and the casement 3 in the locked configuration. The peg stay 4 and top and bottom wafers 17 and 18 are also visible. As can be seen, the metal driving bar 13 runs through a channel in the casement 3. On the metal driving bar there is provided at leastone locking pin 19 which engages with a locking keep 20 mounted on the frame 1 by way of a screw 21. Thus, as the metal driving bar 13 moves in a linear fashion, the locking pin 19 may be moved into and out of engagement with the locking keep 20.

Figure 6 shows how the linear motion of the locking bar 13 may be taken around the corners of the casement 3 by way of a flexible drive member 21 which is coupled to another metal driving bar 22. Therefore, the horizontal linear motion of metal driving bar 13 causes the flexible driving member 21 to move the metal driving bar 22 in a vertical direction. Locking pins attached to metal driving bar 22 may correspondingly engage and disengage with the locking keeps mounted on the vertical part of the frame 1. This arrangement may be continued around the casement 3 to provide locking pins on one, two, three or all four sides. This is particularly advantageous as it allows the window frame and casement to be manufactured from aluminum which is of course lightweight. This has previously been undesirable because whilst lightweight, the aluminum is relatively easy to bend and aluminum windows have therefore previously been easy to break through simply by bending the casement 3 away from the frame 1. By locking the casement 3 into frame 1 on multiple sides it becomes very hard to bend the casement 3 and break through the window.

Using aluminium has the further advantage that the aluminum profile may be extruded which is an extremely cost effective manufacturing process.

The locking mechanism may be further enhanced by providing shoot bolts which extend beyond the periphery of the casement 3 into corresponding keeps mounted on the frame 1. Furthermore, a pair of locking pins may be provided on each side of the casement 3 to which the locking mechanism extends, and these pairs of pins may be arranged to move in opposing directions. Typically, this would be done by providing two metal driving bars, each of which is attached to one of the pairs of pins and linking these metal driving bars by a gear such that they move in opposing directions. * 8

Claims

1. A window comprising an outer frame; an inner frame mounted on the outer frame; a locking mechanism moveable between an unlocked position in which the inner frame is free to move relative to the outer frame between open and closed positions and a locked position in which, when the inner frame is in the closed position, the inner frame is prevented from moving relative to the outer frame; and a stay arm mounted on one or the other of the inner frame or outer frame and being moveable relative to the inner frame or outer frame, the stay arm being capable of engaging a feature mounted on the other of the inner frame or outer frame so as to hold the inner frame in a desired position relative to the outer frame, wherein movement of the stay arm relative to the inner frame or outer frame causes the locking mechanism to move between the locked and unlocked positions.

2. A window according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one shoot bolt and/or at least one locking pin, each of which engages in the locked position with a corresponding lock keep.

3. A window according to claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pair of shoot bolts for each side of the inner frame.

4. A window according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one locking pin for each side of the inner frame.

5. A window according to claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pair of locking pins for each side of the inner frame.

6. A window according to claim 5, wherein the locking pins move in opposing directions as the locking mechanism moves between the locked and unlocked positions.

7. A window according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the at least one shoot bolt and/or at least one locking pin are mounted on the inner frame and the lock keeps are mounted on the outer frame. O 9

8. A window according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the at least one shoot bolt and/or at least one locking pin are mounted on the outer frame and the lock keeps are mounted on the inner frame.

9. A window according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner frame is mounted on the outer frame by a pair of hinges.

10. A window according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer frame and inner frame are manufactured from steel, aluminium or a plastic material.

11. A window according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stay arm is mounted on the inner frame and is provided with one or more holes along its length, each of which is capable of engaging with a peg mounted on the outer frame.

12. A window according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stay arm is mounted on the outer frame and is provided with one or more holes along its length, each of which is capable of engaging with a peg mounted on the inner frame.

13. A window according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stay arm is rotatable relative to the inner frame or outer frame to which the stay arm is mounted.

14. A window according to claim 13, wherein the stay arm has a pinion which meshes with a rack coupled to the locking mechanism such that rotation of the pinion causes a linear motion of the rack.

15. A window according to claim 14, wherein the rack is coupled to the locking mechanism by a pin on the locking mechanism which engages with the rack.

16. A window according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the pinion is provided with an untoothed portion which binds the rack, thereby hindering the locking mechanism from moving once it is in the unlocked position. * 10

17. A window according to any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the stay arm is rotatable in two perpendicular directions.

18. A window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.