IE950793A1

IE950793A1 - Cord locking devices and sash window parting beads

Info

Publication number: IE950793A1
Application number: IE950793A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Robert William Tunnicliffe; John Stuart Walton
Original assignee: Ventrolla Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-13
Filing date: 1995-10-12
Publication date: 1996-04-17
Also published as: IE80949B1; GB2314578A; GB9721250D0; GB9519273D0; GB2298892A; GB2298892B; GB2314578B

Abstract

A cord locking device comprises a cord and a guide member through which the cord passes. A locking member runs on the cord and, when the cord runs through the guide member in one direction, the cord carries the locking member to the guide member. When the locking member engages the guide member, it moves the locking member into a disposition in which the locking member engages the cord and prevents the cord running through the guide member. This is particularly useful on sash cords of sash windows to prevent the cord running over the pulley and into the frame when the cord is released from the associated sash. A holder is provided for accomodating the locking member in the edge of the sash when it is not in use. Such release can be required when the outer sash is to be lifted out of the frame and into a room. In order to do this, it is necessary to provide a parting bead that can be removed. This can be achieved by forming the parting bead in two parts. A first U-shaped part fits into the channel formed by the removal of a conventional parting bead and the second part has projecting portion that forms the parting bead and a root that fits into the channel. Thus the second part can be removed to allow the sash to be removed once the cords have been released.

Description

The invention relates to cord locking devices and sash window parting beads.

There are many circumstances where a cord, if an end is released, will run through, for example, an aperture or around a pulley under a tension applied at an opposite end of the cord. An example of this is a sash window where two sashes are carried by a frame to run in parallel spaced paths between raised and lowered positions. There is a cord at each side of the sash which has one end connected to a respective side edge of the sash, passes over a pulley on the frame and then is connected to a weight within the frame. This provides two counterweights for the associated sash so making raising and lowering easier. It can be a requirement to disconnect one or both cords and there is then a risk that the end of a cord will be lost by the end of the cord disappearing into the frame.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cord locking device comprising a cord, a guide member through which the cord passes ind a locking member OPEN TO PUT?! If INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL. NO.J.3-.&9........OF/lfak 950795a running on the cord, the guide member so actuating the locking member, when the cord runs through the guide member in one direction to engage the locking member with said guide member, as to cause the locking member to lock the cord against further movement relative to the guide member in said direction.

By locking the guide member to the cord under these circumstances, the guide member can be such as to engage a hole or aperture or pulley through which the cord passes and so prevent the end of the cord from being lost. In a sash window, the guide member will engage the pulley over which the cord passes into the frame and so prevent the cord disappearing into the frame.

The cords can be disconnected from a sash if it is desired to remove the sash inwardly for cleaning or painting. In general, however, sash windows include a parting bead which separates the parallel paths in which the sashes run between the raised and lowered positions. The parting bead projects from the frame or around the frame to provide a central guide surface for the sashes. This parting bead can interfere with the removal of the outer sash of a two sash window.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a parting bead assembly for a sash window in which two sashes are carried by a frame to run in parallel spaced paths between raised and lowered positions, said paths being separated by a parting bead, the parting bead comprising a Usection receiver for insertion in a channel provided in the frame and a carrier having a base portion received by said receiver and a projecting portion forming said parting bead.

Since the U-section receiver is almost wholly received in the channel in the frame, once the projection portion is removed, the outer sash can be lifted out of the frame and into a room, once the sash cord has been disconnected.

The invention also includes in its scope a sash window comprising two sashes carried by a frame to run in parallel spaced paths between raised and lowered positions, said paths being separated by a parting bead in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

The following is a more detailed description of some embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-950793 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cord of a sash window having a mounting at one end, and passing over a pulley to a weight at the other end with a sash cord brake device being carried on the cord between the mounting and the pulley, the brake device being in an inoperative position, Figure 2 is an elevation of a portion of the cord and the brake device, with the brake device in an operative position, Figure 3 is a view of an end of the sash cord showing the sash cord brake device and a cord attachment, Figure 4 is a plan view of a holder for accommodating the sash cord brake and the cord attachment, Figure 5 is a side elevation of the holder of Figure 4 showing the sash and brake and the cord attachment accommodated in the holder, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through the frame of a sash window showing a two-piece parting bead assembly.

Referring first to Figure 1, the sash window (not shown) 950793* comprises two sashes carried by a frame to run in parallel spaced paths between raised and lowered positions. When the window is in a room, one sash will be the outer sash (i.e. closer to the exterior of the room) and one sash will be the inner sash (i.e. closer to the interior of the room). Each sash has spaced parallel vertical side edges. Each side edge of the outer sash is provided with a hole towards its lower end which receives a disc-like mounting which holds the end of a cord ll in a serpentine path to lock the cord 11 to the mounting 10 .

The cord then passes up the side of the sash, through an aperture 12 in the frame, over a pulley 13 and down the inside of the frame where the other end of the cord 11 carries a counter-weight (not shown).

These two counter-weights balance the weight of the sash and thus make raising and lowering of the sash easier.

The length of the cord 11 between the mounting 10 and the pulley 13 carries a cord locking device indicated generally at 14. The locking device 14 comprises a tube 15 through which the cord 11 runs. One end of the tube 15 has an end face 16 -950793 which lies in a plane at an angle to a plane normal to the length of the cord 11. As illustrated, this plane is at about 45° to such a normal plane. An arm 17 projects from the end of the tube 15 adjacent the end face 16 in a direction parallel to but spaced from the length of the cord 11. The arm carries, at its end remote from the tube 15, a ring 18 which surrounds the cord 11 and which has an end face 19 opposite the angled end face 16 of the tube 15. The end face of the ring 18 lies in a plane normal to the length of the cord 11. This assembly may be moulded in one piece from a plastics material.

A washer 20 is mounted on the cord 11 between the tube 15 and the ring 18.

When the outer sash is mounted in the frame, the locking device 14 is received in an aperture adjacent the mounting 10 and is inoperative. When, however, it is desired to remove the sash from the frame, the mounting 10 is released from the sash and the locking device 14 is also released and pushed up the cord until it is adjacent the frame aperture 12 and the pulley 13. When the end of the cord 11 is released, the counter-weight tends to pull the cord 11 over the pulley 13 950/93 and into the frame. However, this movement brings the tube into engagement with the pulley 13. This stops the device 14 moving relatively to the cord 11 and so the cord 11 moves through the device 14. This causes the washer 20 to move from the position shown in Figure 1 with the cord 11 towards the angled end face 16 of the tube 15. When the washer 20 reaches the end face 16, it is canted over by the end face so that it no longer lies in a plane normal to the length of the cord 11.

The effect of this is to lock the washer 20 to the cord 11 and, since the washer 20 cannot pass through the tube 15, the cord 11 is effectively locked to the locking device 14. This is the position shown in Figure 2.

The locking device 14 will not pass round the pulley 13 and into the frame and consequently movement of the cord 11 into the frame stops.

When the outer sash is to be remounted in the frame, the mounting 10 and the cord 11 are pulled to pull the cord 11 back over the pulley 13. This causes the washer 20 to disengage from the end face 16 of the tube 15 and resume its position in a plane normal to the length of the cord 11. The washer 20 then travels with the cord away from the tube 15 Ο 7 9 j ,· until it engages the ring 18. Since the end face 19 of the ring 18 is not inclined, the washer 20 maintains its normal position and the cord 11 can run freely through the locking device 14.

The mounting 10 can then be refixed to the side edge of the sash and the locking device 14 inserted in its aperture in the inoperative position.

It will be appreciated that the locking device 14 can be varied in a number of ways. The ring 18 could be replaced by a number of arms projecting from the tube 15 at angularly spaced positions around the tube 15 and having inwardly directed ears that limit the axial movement of the washer 20.

The part that is a tube 15 in the embodiment described above need not be a tube; it could be any convenient shape. In particular, it could be shaped to engage an aperture or a pulley of particular dimensions. The locking need not be performed by a washer 20; it could be performed by any suitably shaped device that prevents movement of the cord 11 relative to the tube 15. The device 14 need not be used with the outer sash; it could be used with the inner sash. 850793 There may be occasions when the ring 18 can be omitted and a washer 20 and tube 15 used by themselves.

An alternative way of dealing with the end of the sash cord 11 and the brake device 14 at the sash is shown in Figures 3 to . Referring to these Figures, the end of the sash cord 11 is folded over and inserted into an attachment 40 which is generally rectangular in plan view (see Figure 3) and is provided an end tab 41. A holder 42 (see Figure 4) is provided which has a flat base 43 including a wider rectangular shaped portion 43a and a narrower rectangular shaped portion 43b. A wall 44 surrounds the base 43 and projects upwardly from the base 43. The wall 44 has opposed end portions 44a,44b interconnected by spaced side walls 44c,44d. There is thus formed a wider holder portion and a narrower holder portion.

The end wall 44b (the end wall bounding the narrower base portion 43b) is provided with a U-shaped cut-out 45, for a purpose to be described below. The side walls 44c,44d form a neck as their spacing narrows at the connection between the wider and narrower base portions 43a, 43b. At the neck each side wall 44a,44b is provided with an inwardly directed lug 46 and an inwardly directed wall 47.

As seen in Figure 5, the attachment 40 fits into the wider holder portion and, when correctly positioned on the sash cord 11, the brake device 14 fits into the narrower holder portion.

The section of the cord 11 between the attachment 40 and the brake device 14 is gripped by the lugs 46 to hold the attachment 40 in the holder 42. The tab 41 projects from the adjacent end wall 44a and the sash cord 11 extends through the cut-out 45.

In use, the holder 42 is located in a correspondingly shaped recess in the frame and is secured in position. When the brake device 14 is to be used, the tab 41 is lifted to remove the attachment 40 and the brake device 14 from the holder 42.

The brake device can then be used as described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2. After use, the brake device 14 is positioned adjacent the attachment 40 and the two items are re-located in the holder 42.

It will be appreciated that a similar arrangement may be used on the other sash. 950795 In general, in a sash window, the paths in which the sash is run between raised and lowered positions is separated by a parting bead which projects from the frame and which provides guide surfaces for both sashes. However, the presence of such a parting bead prevents the outer sash being removed into the associated room.

Referring now to Figure 6, this problem is overcome by the parting bead assembly shown in that Figure. The assembly comprises a U-section receiver 21 and a carrier 22. The Usection receiver 21 has two arms 23 which fit into a channel cut into the frame 25 for receiving a conventional parting bead which is formed by a strip of wood received in the channel 24 and projecting outwardly of the channel 24. Each arm 23 has at its free end an outwardly directed lug 26. The lugs 26 engage the frame surface 27 to limit the depth of insertion of the U-shaped receiver 21 into the channel 24.

A screw 29 may be passed through the base 30 of the receiver 21 to fix the receiver 21 to the frame 25.

A carrier 22 comprises a downwardly projecting root 31 provided with fins 32 and pushed into a U-shaped receiver 21. 95079 J The carrier 22 also includes two slots 33. Each slot 33 opens in a direction normal to the plane of the frame surface 27 and the two slots 33 face in respective opposite directions. As seen in Figure 6, each slot may carry a pile weatherstrip 34 to form a seal with the associated sash or may carry an embellishment strip indicated generally at 35 provided with side grooves 36 which engage respective edges of the associated slot 33 to position a cover 37 over the slot.

Of course, there may be two embellishment strips or two pile weatherstrips or one of each.

In use, when it is required to remove an outer sash into a room for cleaning, the inner sash is first removed by, for example, being swung into the room as described in our GB-A2276904. The carrier 22 is then pulled out of the U-shaped receiver 21. The size of the lugs 22 is such that the Ushaped receiver 21 projects an insufficient distance above the frame surface 27 to impede the removal of the outer sash. The weight of the outer sash is then borne by a person or the outer sash is rested on a sill of the frame. The sash cords are then released as described above with reference to Figures and 2, with the locking devices being slid up the cords 11 β50?ρj until they are adjacent the associated pulleys 14 before the mountings 10 are released. Once the cords 11 have been released, the outer sash can be removed completely. This can all be achieved easily by one person.

When the sash is replaced, the outer sash is lifted into position adjacent the frame. The ends of the cords 11 are drawn down and the mountings 10 re-attached to the associated side edges of the outer sash. The locking devices 14 are slid down the associated cords 11 until they can be stowed in their inoperative positions as described above. The outer sash is then hung on the cords 11 and can be re-positioned in the frame. The root 31 of the carrier 22 can then be reinserted into the U-shaped receiver 21 to reposition the carrier on the frame 25.

It will be appreciated that the lugs 26 are optional. The carrier 22 could be received wholly within the channel 24. In addition, the carrier 22 need not carry pile weatherstrip 34; it could carry a rubber seal or any other suitable form of seal. There need not be two slots 33; there could be only one.

Claims

1. A cord locking device comprising a cord, a guide member through which the cord passes, and a locking member running on the cord, the guide member so actuating the locking member

2. 0 therebetween.

3. A locking device according to claim 2 wherein the

4. A locking device according to claim 3 wherein the limiting means comprises a short tube having an end face 5. Carrier for engagement with the outer sash to form a draughtresisting seal therebetween. 5 sashes are carried by a frame to run in parallel spaced paths between raised and lowered positions, said paths being separated by a parting bead, the parting bead comprising a Usection receiver for insertion in a channel provided in the frame and a carrier having a base portion received by said 5 the cord. 5 5 wherein the guide member includes an end face contacted by said locking member as said locking member engages said guide member, said end face lying in a plane angled relative to a plane normal to the length of the cord such as to actuate the locking member.

5. A locking device according to claim 3 or claim 4 9 5Ογ gj wherein the limiting means are connected to the guide member by an arm extending parallel to but spaced from the cord. 5 when the cord runs through the guide member in one direction to engage the locking member with said guide member as to cause the locking member to lock the cord against further movement relative to the guide members in said direction.

6. A locking device according to any one of claims l to 7. Wherein the guide member is formed from a plastics material.

7. A locking device according to claim 6 wherein the locking member comprises a washer which runs on said cord, the cord, when running through the guide member in one direction, carrying the washer to the guide member where the washer is

8. Wherein the locking member only locks the cord to the guide member when the load on the cord moving the cord in said direction exceeds a predetermined value, loads less than said predetermined value not causing said locking member to lock

9. In combination with a sash cord passing therethrough and a holder for connection to a sash and releasably holding an end 9. A locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 850793 10. Extending along the length of the carrier and facing in a direction opposite the first-mentioned slot, the further slot being for receiving a pile weatherstrip. 10 receiver and projection portion forming said parting bead. 10 of the sash cord and the locking device, when the locking device is inoperative.

10. A locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 2 . A locking device according to claim 1 wherein the guide member includes means for limiting the movement of the locking member along the cord away from the guide member.

11. A locking device according to claim 12 wherein the end of the sash cord received by the holder carries an attachment,

12. A locking device according to claim 10 or claim ll wherein the holder includes means that grip the sash cord

13. A locking device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. . A parting bead assembly for a sash window in which two 15. 16 to 19 wherein the or at least one slot caries a strip that covers said slot. 15 receiver into the channel.

15 . A parting bead assembly according to claim 14 wherein U-section receiver has an outwardly projecting lug at the free end of each arm to limit the depth of insertion of the 15 the attachment being received in the holder, when the locking device is inoperative. 15 canted by engagement with said end face of the guide member to lock the cord against running movement relative to said guide member, reverse running movement of the cord releasing the lock. 15 limiting means has a central aperture through which the cord runs, the limiting means being connected to the guide member.

16. . A parting bead assembly according to claim 15 wherein the carrier includes means for mounting a seal on the carrier for engagement with a sash to form a draught-resisting seal

17. A parting bead assembly according to claim 16 wherein the carrier mounting means comprises a slot extending along -959/93 the length thereof for receiving a pile weatherstrip.

18. A parting bead assembly according to claim 17 wherein the carrier includes means for mounting a second seal on the

19. . A parting bead assembly according to claim 18 wherein means for mounting a second seal comprise a further slot

20. A parting bead assembly according to any one of claims 20 between the attachment and the locking device to hold the attachment and the locking device in the holder. 950/93 20 8. A locking device according to any one of claims 2 to 20 facing said guide member and lying in a plane normal to the length of the cord.

21. A parting bead assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A sash window comprising two sashes carried by a frame to run in parallel spaced paths between raised and lowered positions, said paths being separated by a parting bead in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 21.