SE544252C2

SE544252C2 - Locking arrangement and an openable door, window or hatch using such locking arrangement

Info

Publication number: SE544252C2
Application number: SE2050853A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Antoine Abrezol
Original assignee: Nordiska Balco Ab
Priority date: 2020-07-06
Filing date: 2020-07-06
Publication date: 2022-03-15
Also published as: SE2050853A1; EP4176149A1; WO2022008171A1

Abstract

Locking arrangement for an openable door, window or hatch is provided. The locking arrangement comprises a first gear rack (104) having a longitudinal extension as seen in a first direction C and a second gear rack (105) having a longitudinal extension as seen in a second direction B opposite the first direction C. A gear wheel (106) is arranged between and in a driving engagement with the first and second gear racks. A handle (101) is configured to be set between a locking position and an opening position by rotation. The first gear rack (104) is configured to be displaced in the second direction B and the second gear rack (105) is configured to be displaced in the first direction C in response to the handle (101) being set from the locking position to the opening position. The locking arrangement may be used in a glazed balcony, a sliding window arrangement, a door, a window or a hatch.

Description

LOCKING ARRANGEIVIENT AND AN OPENABLE DOOR, WINDOW OR HATCHUSING SUCH LOCKING ARRANGEIVIENT Field of the lnventionThe invention relates to a locking arrangement for an openable door, window or hatch and an openable door, window or hatch using such locking arrangement.

Background Artlt is well known in the art to provide balconies with a balcony glazing. One typical example is disclosed in SE 529 745 C2. The balcony glazing is arranged on asupporting stand which is mounted between a lower balcony slab and, arrangedstraight above the same, an upper balcony slab. The supporting stand has an upperhorizontal frame part, a lower horizontal frame part and two vertical frame parts. Thehorizontal frame parts constitute guide rails and carry between them a pluralityjuxtaposed vertical glass doors which are laterally movable. Each glass door ismovable back and forth along a rectilinear path between a first end position wherethey together cover the front side of the balcony along its entire width, and a secondposition in which they are arranged in a partly overlapping relationship whereby thefront side of the balcony is maximally open. The glass doors are pivotally arranged inview of the guide rails to allow e.g. cleaning. The pivoting is provided by anarrangement which is integrated in a frame of the glass door, where a verticallyextending pin is displaceable along the vertical direction in and out of engagementwith the guide rail. One pin is arranged in an upper horizontal edge portion of theglass door and one pin is arranged in the lower horizontal edge portion of the glassdoor. The two pins are operable simultaneously by a so called espagnolette typelocking arrangement. The locking arrangement disclosed in SE 529 745 C2comprises a centrally arranged rotatable connector connected to two verticallyextending shafts. The ends of the two shafts are pivotably mounted to the connectoron diametrically opposing sides of the rotatable connector. Thereby, when rotatingthe connector in a first direction, the free ends of the two shafts will move apart into alocking engagement with a respective hole in upper and lower horizontal portions ofthe outer frame. Correspondingly, when rotating the connector in a second, oppositedirection, the free ends of the two shafts will move in the opposite direction out oflocking engagement with the respective holes. The connector may be operable bye.g. a handle or key that is arranged to engage the connector through a vertical side portion of the inner frame of the respective door. The frame accommodating thelocking arrangement must be wide enough to accommodate the connector. Thewidth of the frame has a direct impact on the available free window area, whichshould be as large as possible. Accordingly, the prior art solution relies on a levermechanism where the lever is determined by the radius of the connector. Thus, tosafe guard that the force required to rotate the connector and hence operate thelocking arrangement can be provided, the connector must not be made too smallsince its radius constitutes a lever.

There is hence a need for a new robust locking arrangement that requires areduced space in the frame of an openable element such as a glass door. There isalso an aesthetic driving force towards balconies and the like where the framing ismade as visually insignificant as possible.

Summary of the lnvention The main object of the invention is to provide a locking arrangement whichrequires a reduced space in the frame.

Another object is to provide a robust locking arrangement.

These and other objects are met by a locking arrangement for an openabledoor, window or hatch, the locking arrangement comprising: a first gear rack connected to a first end portion of first shaft having alongitudinal extension as seen in a first direction; a second gear rack connected to a first end portion of a second shaft havinga longitudinal extension as seen in a second direction opposite the first direction; the first and second gear racks being received and guided along the interiorof a longitudinally extending frame member; a gear wheel arranged between and in a driving engagement with the firstand second gear racks; a handle being configured to be set between a locking position and anopening position by the handle being rotated about a pin which is arranged inside theinterior of the frame member; an arm being articulately connected to the handle via a first pivot arranged ata distance from the fixedly arranged pin and articulately connected to the first gearrack via a second pivot, whereby the first gear rack is configured to be displaced in the second direction andthe second gear rack is configured to be displaced in the first direction in response tothe handle being set from the locking position to the opening position; in which locking position the openable _________ locked by second end portions of the first and second shafts engaging stop members and being separate from the openable in which opening position the first and second shafts are moved towards eachother to release engagement between the second end portions of the first andsecond shafts and the stop members.

Accordingly, a locking arrangement is provided in which all parts which are tobe housed in the frame member of the openable element are substantially linearlyoperated. Thus, the locking arrangement is less bulky. The width of the framemember as seen in the main extension plane of the openable element may bereduced. ln practice this means that in the event of the openable element being aframed window, the window area may be made larger than with prior art solutions.This is of special importance in a balcony glazing where the framing should be madeas small and visually insignificant as possible.

By the locking arrangement comprising a handle which is integral with thelocking arrangement, there is no risk of essential parts being lost, such as aremovable key.

By the pin being arranged inside the interior of the frame member, the pivotthat is formed by the pin will be concealed and protected from the ambience.

A free end of the arm associated with the __pivot may beconfigured to be received in a longitudinally extending cavity formed inside the framemember in a position when the handle is set in the locking position. Thereby, a verycompact solution is provided for which in turn allows the profile of the frame memberto have a small cross section. Also, all moving parts, except for part of the handleand part of the arm, are well encapsulated. ln normal use when the lockingarrangement is set to its locked position, only the handlebar as such is visible.Further in this condition it extends in parallel with the longitudinal extension of theframe member, whereby it does not form any bulky projection.

The cavity may be formed by the first and second gear racks beinglongitudinally displaced in response to the handle being set from the openingposition to the locking position The member when the handle is set in the locking position and configured to be arranged g__pivot may be configured to be arranged inside the frame outside the frame member when the handle is set in the opening position. Thereby acompact solution is provided which still allows a sufficient lever.

A free end of the second gear rack may be configured to abut a stop portionof the first gear rack in a position when the handle is set in the opening position.

Thereby a physical stop is provided for which prevents further mutualdisplacement of the gear racks and hence also further displacement of the shafts inview the guide rails.

The first and second gear racks may comprise complementary guidingsurfaces configured to form interacting sliding surfaces during longitudinaldisplacement of the first and second gear racks in the first and second directions.

The first and second gear racks may be slidingly supported by inner wallportions of the frame member during longitudinal displacement of the first andsecond gear racks in the first and second directions.

The first gear rack may be indirectly connected to the first end portion of thefirst shaft via a first distance member; and the second gear rack may be indirectlyconnected to the first end portion of the second shaft via a second distance member.lt is to be understood that the gear racks with remained function may be directlyconnected to the shafts. The distance member together with its respective gear rackand shaft may be slidably received in the through-going channel of the framemember. At least one of the shafts may be configured to extend through a portion ofthe corresponding gear rack. This may be provided for by the shaft extendingthrough a channel or groove in the gear rack.

According to yet another aspect, the invention refers to an openable door,window or hatch comprising a longitudinally extending frame member having aninterior extending along the longitudinal extension of said frame member, andwherein the frame member in a wall portion thereof comprises a through-goingopening having an extension transverse the longitudinal extension of the framemember, and wherein the interior of the frame member is arranged in communicationwith the ambience via said through-going opening; wherein the frame member š-s--eeafeššggureá--te--su-gllgﬁelftcs:mprisas a locking arrangementaccording to any of claims 1-7, with the first and second shafts of the lockingarrangement being received in the interior of the frame member; and wherein the second end portions of the first and second shafts are allowed toproject past a respective end portion of said longitudinally extending frame member,thereby allowing the second end portions of said first and second shafts toselectively engage a respective stop member separate from the openable door,window or hatch when operating said handle. The openable element may by way ofexample be of the type configured to support a panel shaped building element, suchas a window. The features and advantages of the locking arrangement have beenthoroughly discussed above and these are equally applicable to an openable element using such locking arrangement. Hence, to avoid undue repetition,reference is made to the section above.

The through-going opening in the frame member may have a longitudinallyextending shape having a long axis aligned with the longitudinal extension of theframe member.

The handlebar of the handle may be arranged on an exterior wallportion of the frame member; and wherein a free end of the arm associated with the handle via the l __pivot is configured to be received in a longitudinallyextending cavity formed inside the frame member in a position when the handle isset in the locking position, and wherein said free end of the arm is configured to bemoved out from the interior of the frame member via the through-going opening asthe locking arrangement is set from the locking position to the opening position byoperating the handle.

According to yet another aspect, the invention refers to the use of a lockingarrangement with the features described above, in a glazed balcony, a sliding window arrangement, a door, a window or a hatch.

Brief Description of the Drawinqs The invention will now be described in more detail With reference to theaccompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 schematically discloses one embodiment of a typical balcony glazingwith one embodiment of an openable element in the form of a framed window.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view with the components forming part of the lockingarrangement.

Fig. 3 is a partially exploded view of the locking arrangement when set to thelocking position.

Fig. 4 discloses the locking arrangement when set to the locking position.

Fig. 5 discloses the locking arrangement in an intermediary position duringsetting from the locking position to the opening position.

Fig. 6 discloses the locking arrangement when set to the opening position.

Fig. 7 schematically discloses the locking arrangement and the operationthereof from a first, locked position into a second, released position.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment Turning to Fig. 1 one example of a balcony glazing arrangement 1 isdisclosed together with one openable element 2 in the form of a framed window 3.The framed window 3 may be seen as a slidable door.

The balcony glazing arrangement 1 is arranged on a supporting stand 4which is mounted between a lower balcony slab 5 and, arranged straight above thesame, an upper balcony slab 6. The supporting stand 4 has an upper horizontalframe part 7, a lower horizontal frame part 8 and two vertical frame parts 9. Thehorizontal frame parts 7, 8 constitute guide rails 300A, 300B and carry between thema plurality ofjuxtaposed framed windows 3 which are laterally movable. ln the disclosed embodiment, each framed window 3 consists of a rectangularglass pane 10, a rectangular inner frame 11 in which the glass pane 10 is mounted,and an outer frame 12. The outer frame 12 may be provided as an upper guide rail300A and a lower guide rail 300B in which the inner frame 11 is configured to bepivotally mounted about a vertical pivot axis (not disclosed in Fig. 1) positioned atone vertical lateral edge of the framed window 3. The outer frames 12 and, thus, theframed windows 3 as a whole are movable back and forth, each along a rectilinearpath. The moving paths of the outer frames 12 extend parallel to and adjacent toeach other along the entire length of the horizontal frame parts 7, 8. Hence, the outerframes 12 are mounted and guided in the horizontal frame parts 7, 8. The framedwindows 3 are movable between a first end position where they together cover thefront side of the balcony along its entire width, and a second position (not disclosed)in which they are arranged in an overlapping relationship. ln order to allow the framed window 3 to be arranged in a locked position inview of the outer frame 12, the framed window 3 is provided with a lockingarrangement 100. The locking arrangement 100 is arranged in a vertical portion ofthe inner frame 11, which portion in the following will be referred to as a framemember 200. ln Fig. 1, only the handle 101 configured to operate the lockingarrangement 100 is disclosed.

Now turning to Figs. 2 and 3, exploded views of the locking arrangement 100are disclosed together with a portion of the frame member 200. To facilitateunderstanding of the locking arrangement 100 in a condition when mounted in theframe member 200, Fig. 3 discloses a partial cross section of the frame member 200and the handle 101 respectively.

The locking arrangement 100 comprises a handle 101, an arm 102, a supportmember 103, a first gear rack 104, a second gear rack 105, an intermediate gearwheel 106, a first shaft 107 and a second shaft 108. The first gear rack 104 is configured to be connected to a first end portion 110 of the first shaft 107 via a firstdistance member 111. The second gear rack 105 is configured to be connected to afirst end portion 112 of the second shaft 108 via a second distance member 113.Only a portion of the first and second shafts 107, 108 are disclosed. The supportmember 103 is configured to be fixedly arranged inside the frame member 200. Thehandle 101, mainly intended to extend outside the frame member 200, is configuredto be articulately connected at one of its ends to the fixed support member 103 via apin 114. The arm 102 is articulately connected to the handle 101 via the first pivot which is arranged at a distance from the pin 114 and articulately connected tothe first gear rack 104 via the second pivot The pin 114 may be fixed or berotatable around its own axis. Before going into the details of the operation, thedesign of the individual components will be described.

The frame member 200 is in the disclosed embodiment provided as anextruded profile 201 having a longitudinal extension L. The frame member 200 has ahollow interior. ln the event of the locking arrangement 100 being configured to be anopenable window panel or a door panel, the longitudinal extension L will typicallycoincide with the vertical direction thereof. lt is to be understood that otherorientations are possible.

As non-limiting examples, the frame member 200 may be formed byaluminium or a plastic material. The frame member 200 has a generallyquadrangular cross section with two sets of opposing side walls 202A, 202B; 203A,203B. One of the side walls 202A which is configured to extend substantiallyperpendicular to the surface extension of the openable element 2, is in the disclosedembodiment configured to receive or support a portion of a window frame or a doorblade, depending on the type of openable element. The other side wall 202B isconfigured to receive the handle 101. The other set of opposing side walls 203A,203B are, in the disclosed embodiment, configured to form exterior surfaces facingthe inside and outside of e.g. a balcony or a room.

The inner wall portions 204 of the frame member 200 are configured to act assliding and guiding surfaces when interacting with the first and second gear racks104, 105 in a manner to be described below.

As is best seen in Fig. 2, one of the wall portions 202B which in operation isconfigured to extend substantially perpendicular to the surface extension of theopenable element 2 comprises an oblong through-going opening 205 configured toallow a portion of the arm 102 to be moved in and out of the opening 205 duringsetting of the locking arrangement 100. Further, the same wall portion 202Bcomprises two through-going openings 206 allowing connection of the handle 101 to the parts of the locking arrangement 100 that are received inside the frame member200. lt is to be understood that the three through-going openings 205, 206 may bereplaced by one opening only, two opening or more than three openings.

Now turning to the support member 103. The support member 103 isconfigured to be fixedly arranged inside the frame member 200 by the pin 114 whichextends transverse the |ongitudina| extension L of the frame member 200. Thesupport member 103 is thereby prevented from being displaced in view of the framemember 200.

The pin 114 is arranged to extend inside the interior of the frame member200. The pin 114 is configured to allow an articulated connection of one end of thehandle 101. The pin 114 may be integrally formed with the support member 103 oras is disclosed in Fig. 2 be formed as an insert.

The support member 103 further comprises a through-going channel 118 orgroove having an extension coinciding to the |ongitudina| extension L of the framemember 200. This channel 118 or groove is used to allow insertion of the first endportion 112 of the second shaft 108, which first end portion 112 in turn is configuredto engage the second gear rack 105 in a manner to be discussed below.

Turning to the handle 101, this is best seen in Fig. 3. The handle 101comprises a handlebar 119 with a first and a second set of connecting arms 120,121. The first set of connecting arms 120 are configured to extend through theoblong opening 205 in the side wall portion 202B of the frame member 200 to allowconnection to the second pivot The second set of connecting arms 121 areconfigured to extend through the two through-going openings 206 in the side wallportion 202B of the frame member 200 to allow connection to the pin 114. Thereby,during use, only the handlebar101 as such is visible to the user while all othercomponents are received inside the interior of the frame member 200. lt is to be understood that the number of connecting arms 120, 121 on thehandle 101 and their design may be altered within the scope of the invention. Thisalso applies to the design of the openings 205, 206 in the frame member 200.

As given above, the locking arrangement 100 comprises a first gear rack 104and a second gear rack 105 which are configured to be in driving arrangement witheach other by an intermediary gear wheel 106 which is supported by a shaft 160. lnthe disclosed embodiment, the two gear racks 104, 105 have an identical design andare configured to be mounted in the frame member 200 by being mutually turned inview of each other, see e.g. Fig. 2. To facilitate description, the overall design of thegear rack will be described based on the partially exploded view in Fig. 3 and the second gear rack 105 disclosed therein. The description to follow, unless nothingelse is given, is equally applicable to the first gear rack 104.

The gear rack 105 comprises an elongated longitudinally extending bodyconfigured to be slidingly received and guided inside the frame member 200. Hence,the first and second gear racks 104, 105 comprise complementary guiding surfaces140 configured to form interacting sliding surfaces during longitudinal displacementof the first and second gear racks 104, 105 in the first and second directions.

The gear rack 105 may be formed as a unitary body by e.g. injectionmoulding or machining.

One of the two opposing ends of the gear rack 105 comprises anengagement portion 119. The engagement portion 119 is provided with an exteriorcross section, as seen in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension L, whichforms sliding surfaces 141 configured to be in guiding engagement with the innerwalls 204 of the frame member 200.

As is seen in Fig. 4, the engagement portion 119 additionally comprises alongitudinally extending groove 117 with two opposing projections 122A, 122B. Theopposing projections 122A, 122B are configured to allow a direct or indirect lockingengagement with the first end portion 112 of the second shaft 108. This will befurther discussed below.

Now turning anew to Fig. 3 and specifically to the opposite end of the gearrack 105, this end comprises a toothed portion 123. The toothed portion 123 has alongitudinal extension. The teeth are arranged with an extension transverse to thelongitudinal extension L of the frame member 200. ln use, the two identical gearracks 104, 105 are arranged one on top of the other and mutually turned 180degrees to thereby extend in opposite directions, with the gear wheel 106 engagingthe two toothed portions 123.

The outer end of the gear rack 105 comprises a partition wall 161 whichextends transverse to the longitudinal extension L.

The outer end of the gear rack 105, opposite the engagement portion 119comprises a guiding wall portion 125 having an extension along the longitudinalextension L. ln use, the guiding wall portion 125 is configured to slidingly abut aninner wall portion 204 of the frame member 200.

The outer end of the gear rack 105 further comprises a pivot 115. The pivot115 is configured to engage one end of the arm 102. This pivot 115 has previously been and will be referred to as the pivot 115. The pivot 115 is arranged in a recessed corner portion of the gear rack 105.

As is best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the arm 102 of the locking arrangement 100has an elongated form with tvvo opposing ends. One of the ends is configured to be articulately hinged to the pivot 115 which is formed in the first gear rack104. The opposite end of the arm 102 is configured to be articulately connected tol" pivot 116 to which the handle 101 is articulately connected. This pivot 116 is in the disclosed embodiment provided as an insert pin 126 the which extends from the arm 102 and through ho|es in the first set of connecting arms120 of the handle 101. The arm 102 is thereby articulately hinged in both its ends. ltis to be understood that the arm 102 may be articulately hinged in other ways with remained function.

Now turning to Fig. 4, the engagement between the engagement portion 119of the second gear rack 105 and the first end portion 112 of the second shaft 108 isillustrated. As given above, the engagement portion 119 in the end of the gear rack105 comprises a longitudinally extending groove 117 with two opposing projections122A, 122B. The two projections 122A, 122B are mutually displaced as seen alongthe longitudinal extension L. The opposing projections 122A, 122B are substantiallyV-shaped.

A rear end 123 of the longitudinally extending groove 117 comprises, in aposition behind the innermost projection 122A a cavity 124 which has an extensionforming an angle to the longitudinal extension L. The cavity 124 communicates withthe groove 117.

The free end portion 112 of the shaft 108 comprises two V-shaped cuts 125A,125B being substantially complementary to the opposing projections 122A, 122B ofthe groove 117. The V-shaped cuts 125A, 125B may be integrally formed in the shaft108 or be arranged as a distance member 113 to be connected to the end portion112 of the shaft 108. ln the event a distance member 113 is used, the shaft 108 isindirectly connected to the gear rack 105. ln order of allowing a locking engagement between the free end portion 112of the shaft 108 and the engagement portion 119 of the gear rack 105, the free endportion 112 of the shaft 108 is inserted into the longitudinally extending groove 117and into the cavity 124, and in this inserted position, the shaft 108 is angled back intoa position in parallel with the longitudinal extension L of the frame member 200. lnthis parallel position, the opposing projections 122A, 122B will be received in therespective V-shaped cuts 125A, 125B. Thereby, a linear driving engagement resultswhere a displacement of the gear rack 105 pulls the shaft 108 along.

This engagement described above in view of the second gear rack 105 andthe second shaft 108 is equally applicable to the engagement between the first gear 11 rack 104 and the first shaft 107. Hence, to avoid undue repetition, only theengagement of the second gear rack 105 is described.

As is best seen in Fig. 7, the opposite free ends 131, 132 of the respectiveshafts 107, 108 are configured to be displaced in and out of engagement with stopmembers 150A, 150B which are arranged in guide rails 300A, 300B in which theopenable element 2 is supported. The guide rails 300A, 300B may by way ofexample be constituted by a part of a glazed balcony. Accordingly, one stop member150A is arranged in the upper guide rai| 300A and one stop member 150B isarranged in the lower guide rai| 300B. ln the disclosed embodiment, the respectivestop member 150A, 150B is formed as a plug received in the respective guide rai|300A, 300B. The stop member 150A, 150B comprises a channel 151A, 151 Bcoaxially arranged with the longitudinal extension of the first and second shafts 107,108. ln a condition when the locking arrangement 100 is set to its locking position,the shafts 107, 108 have been displaced in view of one another so that the free ends131, 132 of the shafts 107, 108 are received in the stop members 150A, 150B(dashed lines). Correspondingly, in a condition when the locking arrangement 100 isset to its opening position, the shafts 107, 108 have been displaced in view of otherso that the free ends 130, 131 of the shafts 107, 108 are out of engagement with thestop members 150A, 150B. ln other words, when the locking arrangement 100 is setto its locking position, the first and second shafts 107, 108 are maximally displaced inview of each other into a position where the free ends 131, 132 of the first andsecond shafts 107, 108 respectively engages the stop members 150A, 150B.Correspondingly, when the locking arrangement 100 is set to its opening position,the shafts 107, 108 are maximally linearly displaced towards each other to therebyrelease engagement with the stop members 150A, 150B. No matter direction, thedisplacement of the shafts 107, 108 is a result of the direct or indirect drivingengagement between the two shafts and the respective gear racks 104, 105. Thiswill be described in detail below when discussing the operation.

The stop members 150A, 150B are preferably made by plastics. By makingthe stop members 150A, 150B of a non-corrosive material, formation of oxides alongthe shaft receiving channels in the stop members 150A, 150B is prevented. lt is to beunderstood that in an alternative, non-disclosed embodiment, the stop members150A, 150B may be replaced by a hole or a channel arranged in the respective guiderai| 300A, 300B.

Now turning to Fig. 4, the locking arrangement 100 is disclosed as beingmounted in the frame member 200 of the type discussed above. To facilitate 12 understanding, only a portion of the frame member 200 is illustrated. The lockingarrangement 100 is disclosed as being set to its locking position i.e. the first andsecond shafts 107, 108 are maximally displaced in view of each other into a positionwhere the free ends 131, 132 of the first and second shafts 107, 108 respectivelyengages a stop member 150A, 150B as has been described in view of Fig. 7.

As can be seen in this view, although the first and second rear racks 104, 105as such are identical, they are mounted one on top of the other with the engagementportions 119 facing away from each other. Thereby, a first longitudinally extendingcavity 133 is defined by the inner wall portions 204 of the frame member 200, thebodies of the first and second gear racks 104, 105, the partition wall 161 of the firstgear rack 104 and the engagement portion 119 of the second gear rack 105. Thisfirst longitudinally extending cavity 133 articulately receives the arm 102. One end of the arm 102 is articulately connected to the *j,__pivot 116 connected to thehandle 101, and the second end of the arm 102 is articulately connected to the _:\§._§;~°*~^g_1§_;§ï__pivot 115 formed by the first gear rack 104.

A second longitudinally extending cavity 134 is defined by the opposingtoothed portions 123 of the first and second gear racks 104, 105, an inner wallportion 204 of the frame member 200 and also the partition walls 161 of the two gearracks 104, 105. The second longitudinally extending cavity 134 receives the gearwheel 106 which thereby engages the two gear racks 104, 105 in a driving manner.The longitudinal extension of the first and second cavities 133, 134 is variable by thefirst and second gear racks 104, 105 being longitudinally displaced in response tothe handle 101 being set from the opening position to the locking position. Duringsuch longitudinal displacement, the gear wheel 106 is rotated around its supportiveshaft 160. The longitudinal displacement in this position is restricted by the free endof the second gear rack 105 being configured to abut a stop portion 144 of thesupport member 103.

As is illustrated in Fig. 4, in the condition when the handle 101 is set to thelocking position, a virtual line VL is formed to extend between the first and secondpivots where the virtual line VL forms an angle oi in view of thelongitudinal centre line CL of the frame member 200. To provide a “self-lockingeffect” of the handle 101 which maintains the handle in this locking position, theengagement portion 119 in the second gear rack 105 may be provided as a shoulder142 facing the arm 102. When setting the handle 101 from the locking position to theopening position, the end of the arm 102 must be forced to pass the shoulder 142.This may be provided for by overcoming an inherent elasticity in the engaging parts.Accordingly, the operator must actively force the arm 102 by operating the handle 13 101 to pass the shoulder 142 in order to set the locking arrangement to its openposition.

Now turning to Fig. 5, the locking arrangement 100 is illustrated in anintermediate position between the locking position and the opening position. Thus,the handle 101 has been pivoted in a direction away from the frame member 200,see arrow A. The handle 101 is pivoted around the pin 114. Since the handle 101 isftwpivot 116, the handle101 pulls the associated end of the arm 102 out from the first longitudinally extending also indirectly connected to the arm 102 via the cavity 133. This is allowed as a result of the opposite end of the arm 102 being articulately connected to the rack 104.As a result of this setting of the handle 101, the arm 102 displaces, by a pivot 115 which is integral with first gear pulling action, the first, lower, gear rack 104 in a second direction, see arrow B,towards the support member 103. This is allowed by the first gear rack 104 beingslidingly received in the frame member 200. Since the first gear rack 104 is arrangedin a driving engagement with the second gear rack 105 via the intermediary gearwheel 106, the second gear rack 105 is displaced in the opposite direction, seearrow C, by being slidingly received in the frame member 200. Since the first andsecond gear racks 104, 105 are in direct driving engagement with each other via theintermediate gear wheel 106, the first and second gear racks 104, 105 are displacedthe same distance and with the same speed. Thus, a ratio 1:1 applies in terms ofdisplacement and speed for the two gear racks 104, 105.

Also, as a result of the first and second gear racks 104, 105 being directly orindirectly connected to the shafts 107, 108, the shafts 107, 108 will move along inthe same directions, see arrows B1 and C1.

The mutual displacement of the first and second gear racks 104, 105continues until the handle 101 has been set to its fully opened position, see Fig. 6. lnthis position, the first and second gear racks 104, 105 have been mutually displacedto such extent that the free end of the second gear rack 105 opposite theengagement portion 119 abuts a mating stop portion 143 of the engagement portion119 of the first gear rack 104.

Depending on the extension of the toothed portions 123 in the first andsecond gear racks 104, 105, the gear wheel 106 may have reached an end of thetoothed portions 123 in which it is prevented from further rotation around its shaft160. ln this fully opened position of the handle 101, and as a result of the fulldisplacement of the first and second gear racks 104, 105 towards each other, the 14 shafts 107, 108 have been maximally linearly displaced towards each other tothereby release engagement with the stop members 150A, 150B, see Fig 7.

As is illustrated in Fig. 6, in the condition when the handle 101 is set to thefully opened position, the virtual line VL which extends betvveen the first and secondpivots now forms an angle ß in view of the longitudinal centre line CL ofthe frame member 200. The handle 101 will maintain this fully opened position andhence also the two shafts 107, 108 out of engagement with the guide rails 300A,300B as was discussed in view of Fig. 7. This position will be maintained eventhough the operator should loosen his/her grip of the handle 101. lt is to be noted that when setting the handle 101 from the fully closedposition, see Fig. 4 to its fully opened position, see Fig. 6, the virtual line VL of the arm 102 has shifted from an angle oi to an angle ß as the pivot 116passes the centreline CL. ln this context, angle oi may be seen as a negative angle inview of the centre line CL whereas angle ß may be seen as a positive angle in viewof the centre line CL. Thus, in the position when the virtual line VL is aligned with thecentre line CL, a fully balanced position of the handle is achieved. However, the fullybalanced position is only a temporary “transition position” when setting the handle101 from the fully opened to the fully closed position and vice versa. Thereby, thelocking arrangement will either be in the locking position or in the opening positionwhere the operator as previously discussed must actively force the arm 102 byoperating the handle 101 to pass the shoulder 142 to set the locking arrangement toits open position and vice versa.

The locking arrangement has been described and illustrated based on aframe member where the handle is arranged on one of the two side walls that extendsubstantially perpendicular to the surface extension of the openable element, andwhere the inner side walls of the other set of opposing side walls act as sliding andguiding surfaces for the first and second gear racks. lt is to be understood that theframe member may be redesigned within the scope of the invention so that the gearracks are configured to be guided and slid along the other set of opposing side wallsof the frame member. Hence, the handle may be supported by another side wall ofthe frame member than exemplified above.

The locking arrangement has been described as arranged with the handlesprojecting from a side wall portion extending transverse the major plane of theopenable element with the shafts extending along the vertical extension of the framemember. lt is to be understood that the locking arrangement may be arranged inother orientations and in other surfaces of an openable element. The locking arrangement may by way of example be equally applicable in the event the shaftshave a horizontal extension.

The locking arrangement has been described as applied to an openableelement of a balcony. lt is to be understood that the locking arrangement is alsoapplicable in other applications such as a sliding window arrangement, a door, a window or a hatch.

Claims

1. Looking arrangement for an openable door, window or hatch (2), thelocking arrangement comprising: a first gear rack (104) connected to a first end portion (110) ofa first shaft(107) having a longitudinal extension as seen in a first direction C; a second gear rack (105) connected to a first end portion (112) ofa secondshaft (108) having a longitudinal extension as seen in a second direction B oppositethe first direction C; the first and second gear racks (104, 105) being received and guided alongthe interior of a longitudinally extending frame member (200); a gear wheel (106) arranged between and in a driving engagement with thefirst and second gear racks (104, 105); a handle (101) being configured to be set between a locking position and anopening position by the handle (101) being rotated about a pin (114) which isarranged inside the interior of the frame member (200); an arm (102) being articulately connected to the handle (101 ) via a first pivot(11_§§äš) arranged at a distance from the pin (114) and articulately connected to thefirst gear rack (104) via a second pivot (1 whereby the first gear rack (104) is configured to be displaced in the second directionB and the second gear rack (105) is configured to be displaced in the first direction Cin response to the handle (101) being set from the locking position to the openingposition; »un .-\~~ l. .. ~ ttx-“w »i in which locking position the openable _________ __ =1§s12~§§3as11š (2) islocked by second end portions (131, 132) of the first and second shafts (107, 108)engaging stop members (150A, 150B) being separate from the openable ' '“ sfsï (2), andin which opening position the first and second shafts (107, 108) are moved " “ ï* towards each other to release engagement between the second end portions (131,132) of the first and second shafts (107, 108) and the stop members (150A, 150B).

2. Locking arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a free end of the arm(102) associated with the 3longitudinally extending cavity (133) formed inside the frame member (200) in a pivot (116) is configured to be received in a position when the handle (101) is set in the locking position.

3. Locking arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said cavity (133) is formed by the first and second gear racks (104, 105) being longitudinally displaced inresponse to the handle (101) being set from the opening position to the lockingposition.

4. Locking arrangement according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the ÅWMANäxn>::=\:>:~: pivot (116) is configured to be arranged inside the frame member (200) when the handle (101) is set in the locking position and configured to be arrangedoutside the frame member (200) when the handle (101) is set in the openingposition.

5. Locking arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, whereina free end of the second gear rack (105) is configured to abut a stop portion (143) ofthe first gear rack (104) in a position when the handle (101) is set in the openingposition.

6. Locking arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, whereinthe first and second gear racks (104, 105) comprise complementary guiding surfaces(140) configured to form interacting sliding surfaces during longitudinal displacementof the first and second gear racks (104, 105) in the first and second directions B, C;and/or wherein the first and second gear racks (104, 105) are slidingly supported byinner wall portions (204) of the frame member (200) during longitudinal displacementof the first and second gear racks (104, 105) in the first and second directions B, C.

7. Locking arrangement according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the first gear rack (104) is indirectly connected to the first end portion (110)of the first shaft (107) via a first distance member (111); and the second gear rack(105) is indirectly connected to the first end portion (112) ofthe second shaft (108)via a second distance member (113).

8. An openable door, window or hatch, comprising a longitudinallyextending frame member (200) having an interior extending along the longitudinalextension of said frame member (200), and wherein the frame member (200) in awall portion thereof comprises a through-going opening (205) having an extensiontransverse the longitudinal extension of the frame member (200), and wherein theinterior of the frame member (200) is arranged in communication with the ambience via said through-going opening (205); wherein the frame member (200) a locking arrangement (100) according to any of claims 1-7, with the first and second shafts(107, 108) of the locking arrangement (100) being received in the interior of theframe member (200); and wherein the second end portions (131, 132) of the first and second shafts(107, 108) are allowed to project past a respective end portion of said longitudinallyextending frame member (200), thereby allowing the second end portions (131, 132)of said first and second shafts (107, 108) to selectively engage a respective stopmember (150A, 150B) separate from the openable door, window or hatch (2) whenoperating said handle (101).

9. The openable door, window or hatch according to claim 8, whereina handlebar (119) of the handle (101) is arranged on an exterior wall portion of the frame member (200); and whereina free end of the arm (102) associated with the handle (101) via the pivot (116) is configured to be received in a longitudinally extendingcavity (133) formed inside the frame member (200) in a position when the handle(101) is set in the locking position, and wherein said free end of the arm (102) isconfigured to be moved out from the longitudinally extending cavity (133) of theframe member (200) via the through-going opening (205) as the locking arrangement(100) is set from the locking position to the opening position by operating the handle(101 ).

10. Use of a locking arrangement according to any of claims 1-7 in a glazedbalcony, a sliding Window arrangement, a door, a window or a hatch.