US3222098A

US3222098A - Automatic window lock

Info

Publication number: US3222098A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald E Hausfeld
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-09-24
Filing date: 1963-09-24
Publication date: 1965-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-07

Description

Dec. 7, 1965 e. E. HAUSFELD AUTOMATIC WINDOW LOCK Filed Sept. 24, 1965 INVENTOR. GERALD E. HAUSFELD.

ATTORNEY 3,222,098 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 3,222,098 AUTOMATIC WIYDOW LOCK Gerald E. Hausfeld, Union Lake, Mich. (10325 Highland Road, Milford 2, Mich.) Filed Sept. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 311,099 1 Claim. (Cl. 292173) This invention relates to locks and more particularly to a lock for sliding windows which is automatically actuated by translation of the window to its normal closed position.

Sliding window assemblies are normally locked in closed position by means of an independent lock mechanism located adjacent the center bar of the assembly. Thus closing and locking of a Window are actually independent operations. As a result, windows are often inadvertently left closed but unlocked, creating a substantial risk of theft.

In addition, the task of locking the window is a tedious one and therefore it is often avoided until the occupant of the room or building prepares to leave the area unattended. He then proceeds from window to window, locking each in turn. Such a procedure is obviously timeconsuming and inefiicient.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a lock mechanism which automatically locks the window when the window is translated to its closed position.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention which will be subsequently described in detail, the lock is integral with a handle which is grasped in moving the window.

The handle is pin-connected to a spring-loaded locking bolt which normally engages an opening in a fixed memher in the window. The handle is thus not hingedly connected in any manner to the retaining member of the window pane but is pivotably connected to the end of the bolt. When the handle is pivoted about the point of contact between one of its corners and the adjacent retaining member, the bolt is retracted axially from the adjacent fixed member, thus releasing the window for translational movement. When the window is translated again to its closed position, the spring pressure automatically returns the bolt to its locking position in the fixed member.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide an automatic lock for sliding window assemblies which is actuated by translating the window to its closed position, which is simple to manufacture and is low in cost.

A further object is to provide a lock for sliding window assemblies in which the bolt is moved axially between closed and open positions by a pivoting motion of the lock handle.

Another object is to provide such a lock in which the handle is pivotably connected to the bolt member rather than hinged upon a retaining member of the window pane.

Another object is to provide such a lock which is adaptable -to a wide variety of sliding window assemblies.

Another object is to provide a lock of this type whereby the window may be unlocked and translated in one operation.

Other objects and advantages will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The description makes reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present lock incorporated in a horizontal insulating window assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 22 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is the sectional view shown in FIGURE 2 with the bolt and handle in retracted position for unlocking the assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 shows a Window assembly including a horizontal header member 10, horizontal sill member 12, and vertical jamb members 14 connecting the header and sill members at their ends. A vertical locking member or center bar 15 is fixed between the header and sill members intermediate the vertical jamb members 14.

A track 16 is provided along the inside of the header and sill members. A pair of parallel glass panes 18 is supported in vertical retaining members 20 and horizontal retaining members 22 in spaced-apart relation to form an insulating window. These panes are adapted to slide horizontally along the track 16.

A second pair of spaced-apart glass panes 24 is fixed between the header and

sill members

10 and 12 and the center bar 15 at one end of the assembly. In this manner the fixed panes 24 occupy the left half of the window assembly as shown in FIGURE 1 while the movable panes 18 are slidable horizontally along the track 16.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3-, the left vertical retaining member 20 includes a strip 26 extending parallel to the edges of the panes 18, and a bolt guide 28 connected to the strip 18. The bolt' guide is cylindrically shaped with a first opening 30 adjacent the center bar 15, and a second opening 32 opposite the first opening.

A bolt 34, having a head portion 36 and a shank portion 38, extends through the second opening 32 into the bolt guide 28. The head portion 36 of the bolt includes a projecting lip 40 and normally extends through the first opening 30 in the bolt guide 28. A coil spring 42 is disposed between the inner surface of the bolt guide and the head portion of the bolt so as to normally maintain the bolt in this extended or locking position.

A handle 44 is positioned along the outer surface of the left vertical retaining member 20 adjacent the shank end of the bolt 34. The handle includes a flange 48 which normally contacts a U-shaped portion 50 of the retaining member 20. The U-shaped portion 50 holds the adjacent pane 18 in position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The handle includes an opening 52 into which the bolt-shaped end 54 of a pivot member 56 extends. A small pin 58 extends through matching openings in the handle and bolt-shaped end 50 and thus fixes the handle on the pivot member 56.

The pivot member 56 includes a quadrant-shaped portion 60 having a hole 62. The shank portion 38 of the bolt 34 has a hole 64 adjacent its end and normally positioned above the hole 62. A pin 66 extends through the

holes

62 and 64.

The center bar 15 includes an opening 68 which is located adjacent the opening 30 in the bolt guide 28 when the movable panes 18 are in the right-hand position shown in FIGURE 1. In this position the projecting lip 40 of the bolt extends into the opening 68, locking the movable panes 18 against movement.

It can be seen that when the movable panes 18 are in the right-hand position as shown in FIGURE 1, the panes are locked in position. I To move the panes 18 to the left, the assembly is unlocked by pulling on the handle 44. As shown in FIGURE 3, pulling the handle causes it to pivot about the point of contact 70 between the handle and the strip 26. This movement of the handle moves the pivot member 56 in the same manner, and consequently pulls the bolt 34 away from the center bar 15 against the force of the spring 42. The head portion 36 of the bolt fits loosely in the bolt guide 28 so as to permit the shank portion 38 f the bolt to move slightly in the lateral direction to the position shown in FIG- URE 3. Since the lip 40 no longer extends through the opening 68 in the center bar 15, the panes 18 are then free to move horizontally. Whenever the panes 18 are returned to the right-hand position and the handle released, the spring 42 will automatically cause the bolt to move axially forward and lock the panes 18 in place.

Although the present invention has been shown as incorporated in a horizontal adjustable insulating window assembly, it should be understood that the present lock device may be employed in any type of sliding window assembly wherein a window is to be translated manually to or from a lock position and independent locking means are not desirable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A lock for a sliding window assembly having a rectangular fixed frame including a medial locking bar, a rectangular pane, retaining members surrounding said pane and slidable in said fixed frame between open and closed positions respectively occupying opposite halves of said fixed frame and on opposite sides of said medial bar,

comprising:

(a) a bolt guide mounted midway along and within one of said retaining members, said last member substantially abutting said locking bar when said pane is in said closed position, said guide having an opening registering with at least a portion of an opening in the adjacent locking bar in the direction perpendicular to the plane of said pane;

(b) an elongated bolt extending in the direction perpendicular to the plane of said pane, the head of said bolt extending through said guide and having a lip engaging said opening in said locking bar when said bolt is axially disposed in a forward position;

(c) spring means in said guide biasing said bolt axially toward said forward position; and

(d) a handle disposed on the side of said retaining member away from said locking bar, said handle being independent of said retaining member and pivotally connected to the free end of said bolt, said handle contacting said retaining member along a line perpendicular to and displaced from the axis of said bolt, said handle including a quadrant-shaped memher to which said bolt is pivotally connected, said last member normally projecting between said retaining member and said pane, said line of contact between said handle and said retaining member being substantially the center of the are formed along the face of said quadrant-shaped member, and said bolt being retracted axially from engagement with said locking bar by pivoting said handle about said line of contact so that the surface of said quadrant moves against said retaining member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 744,473 11/ 1903 Buchanan 292173 2,600,483 6/1952 Colonna 292l73 2,835,934 5/ 1958 Fra-nzblau et al 2052.2 2,920,358 1/1960 Woodard 20-52.8 2,953,824 9/ 1960 Minick 2011 3,050,322 8/ 1962 Miller 292-114 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,227,432 3/1960 France.

405,216 2/ 1934 Great Britain.

M. HENSON WOOD, 1a., Primary Examiner.

THOMAS J. HICKEY, Examiner.