WO2005124070A1

WO2005124070A1 - A lock for a window or door

Info

Publication number: WO2005124070A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000862
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Alexander Christie
Original assignee: Bradnam's Windows & Doors Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-22
Filing date: 2005-06-16
Publication date: 2005-12-29
Also published as: AU2004202726A1

Abstract

A lock having a pair of hook bolts, the hook bolts being movable between an unlocking position and a locking position, an operating member in the lock which is operatively associated with the hook bolts such that movement of the operating member causes movement of the hook bolts, and an external handle which is movable between a lock opening position and a closed position, the external handle being operatively associated with the operating member such that movement of the external handle causes movement of the operating member.

Description

A Lock for a Window or Door

Field of the Invention This invention is directed to a lock for a window or door and which contains oppositely rotating hook bolts that can be manipulated between a locking and unlocking position by a pull handle. The invention will be described with reference to a lock for a sliding window, but no particular limitation is meant thereby and it is envisaged that the lock may also be suitable for other types of windows, doors such as a sliding door, a security screen door or other sliding members.

Background Art

Locks for sliding windows and doors are well known and there are many examples of such locks in the marketplace and in the patent literature. It is also known to provide a lock which contains oppositely rotating hook bolts. It is known to provide a lock containing oppositely rotating hook bolts, where the hook bolts are manipulated by an external handle. It is also known to provide a lock which contains some form of deadlocking mechanism to prevent the hook bolts from opening. The deadlocking mechanism is typically operated by a key.

Although these types of locks are known, there are disadvantages including complexity of manufacture, the number of parts in the lock, assembly of the lock components, and the "hand" of the lock that requires different parts depending on whether the lock is a "left hand" or "right hand" lock.

Therefore, there would be an advantage if it were possible to provide a lock for a window or door which could be possibly made of fewer parts, and which could be more easily assembled.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country. Object of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a lock for a window or door which may overcome at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages or provide a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a lock, the lock having a pair of hook bolts, the hook bolts being movable between an unlocking position and a locking position, an operating member in the lock which is operatively associated with the hook bolts such that movement of the operating member causes movement of the hook bolts, and an external handle which is movable between a lock opening position and a closed position, the external handle being operatively associated with the operating member such that movement of the external handle causes movement of the operating member.

In another form, the invention resides in a lock, the lock comprising a bolt housing assembly and a handle assembly, the bolt housing assembly having a pair of hook bolts that are movable between an unlocking position and a locking position, the bolt housing assembly further comprising a housing member to which the hook bolts are attached, the bolt housing assembly further comprising an operating member which is operatively associated with the hook bolts to move the hook bolts between the locking and unlocking position, the handle assembly comprising a handle which is pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position, engagement means operatively associated with the handle to move upon movement of the handle, the engagement means being operatively associated with the operating member such that movement of the engagement means causes movement of the operating member, and attachment means to attach the bolt housing assembly to the handle assembly. In this version of the invention, the lock can be made of two assemblies, being the bolt housing assembly and the handle assembly, and when installed onto the lock stile, these two assemblies can become permanently snapped together into the lock stile. It is preferred that the bolt housing assembly is not handed and can be reversed.

The lock is particularly suited as a lock for a sliding window or a sliding door although no particular limitation is meant thereby.

The lock may be designed to fit into a lock stile.

The hook bolts will typically be oppositely rotating hook bolts, although it is envisaged that the lock may also contain one operating hook bolt and one "idler" hook bolt. It is also envisaged that the hook bolts may be slidable towards and away from each other and other mechanisms or means may be provided to enable the hook bolts to move between the open and closed positions (i.e. unlocking and locking positions). Each hook bolt may have a leading "hook" portion extending from the lock, at least when the lock is in the locking position, and may have a main body portion that stays within the confines of the lock. The main body portion may be journalled or otherwise attached to another part of the lock to enable the hook bolts to pivot between the unlocked and locked positions. The main body portion may also contain an inwardly extending pivot portion which can engage directly or indirectly with the operating member. Suitably, the hook bolt is formed integrally with the hook portion, the main body portion and the pivot portion.

The operating member may comprise a sliding member that is adapted for sliding or reciprocal movement within the lock body. The sliding member may slide between a first position where the hook bolts are in the locked position and a second position where the hook bolts have been moved to the unlocked position. The sliding member may be biased by any suitable type of biasing means to the first position which means that the hook bolts are naturally biased into the locked position. The biasing means may comprise a spring that may be a helical spring.

The operating member may therefore comprise a sliding block. The sliding block may be formed from any suitable material including metal, plastics and the like. The sliding block may contain a recess to accommodate the pivot portion in each hook bolt. Thus, sliding movement of the sliding block can cause the hook bolts to pivot between a locking and unlocking position. The sliding block may contain a limit means to prevent excessive movement of the sliding block. The limit means may comprise a projection on the sliding block that extends within a slot somewhere else in the lock. The length of the slot may determine the limit of the sliding block.

Suitably, the hook bolts and the operating member is formed in a subassembly which may comprise the bolt housing assembly. This subassembly may also contain a housing portion in which the operating member can be housed and to which the hook bolts can be rotatably attached. The housing portion may contain the slot which acts as a limit on sliding movement of the operating member.

The external handle may comprise a paddle or any other suitably shaped member and may be formed from any suitable material including plastic and metal. The external handle is preferably rotatable about an axis which is substantially at right angles to the pivot axis of the hook bolts. The external handle may comprise an assembly of a number of parts. For instance, the external handle may have an inner face that projects into the lock. The inner face may have a longitudinal bead which comprises part of the pivot axis. The longitudinal bead may be mounted for pivotal movement relative to another part of the lock or another part of the external handle assembly. Suitably, the lock contains a handle assembly and the handle is typically attached relative to the handle assembly. The handle assembly will typically contain an engaging means. The engaging means will typically be operatively associated with the operating member in such a way that movement of the handle will cause movement of the operating member. The engaging means may comprise at least one and preferably two blocks that may be attached to the longitudinal bead such that rotation of the handle will cause rotation of the longitudinal bead and therefore rotation of the engaging means. The engaging means is preferably configured or shaped to mate with the operating member directly.

Deadlocking means may be provided to deadlock the lock. The deadlocking means is preferably operated by a key, snib and the like. It is preferred that the deadlocking means is operated by a removable key. The deadlocking means may comprise a slide member. The slide member may be movable between a deadlocking position and an un-deadlocking position. In the deadlocking position, it is preferred that the slide member prevents movement of the external handle. In one form, this can be achieved by providing some form of engaging portion that moves upon movement of the external handle but which can be engaged by the deadlocking member when in the deadlocking position to prevent such movement. The engaging portion may be part of the handle assembly and may comprise an extending portion that extends from the inner face of the handle. Suitably, the engaging portion is attached to the longitudinal bead. Thus, rotation of the handle will cause rotation of the engaging portion.

The slide member (that may comprise the deadlocking means) may be configured to engage with the engaging portion to prevent rotation of the engaging portion.

The deadlocking means will typically be movable between the deadlocking position and the un-deadlocking position by an external key. Typically, a key barrel is provided which contains a rear cam or pin. The cam will typically sit within a slot on the deadlocking means and rotation of a key in the key barrel will rotate the cam and cause sliding movement of the deadlocking means.

Suitably, the deadlocking means and the key barrel form part of the handle assembly.

For ease of assembly, it is preferred that the bolt housing assembly and the handle assembly are formed with attachments to enable the two assemblies to be snapped fitted together. Typically, the bolt housing assembly comprises at least one and preferably two resilient fingers that can snapped fitted into a corresponding portion on the handle assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1. Illustrates a front (outside) view of the lock.

Figure 2. Illustrates a rear (inside) view of the lock.

Figure 3. Illustrates a section view of the lock.

Figure 4. Illustrates an inside perspective view of the handle assembly showing the deadlocking means.

Figure 5. Illustrates a perspective view of the bolt housing assembly.

Figure 6. Illustrates the handle assembly attached to the bolt housing assembly.

Figure 7. Illustrates a front view of the lock attached to a keeper (striker).

Best Mode

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a lock for a sliding window ( or door) which comprises two assemblies that are permanently attached together in the lock stile. In the particular embodiment, the assemblies comprise a bolt housing assembly 10 and a handle assembly 11. The bolt housing assembly 10 is illustrated in figure 5, and the handle assembly is illustrated in figure 4. Referring initially to the handle assembly 11, and therefore initially to figure 4, the assembly comprises a number of components which are attached together. Specifically, assembly 11 comprises a mounting plate 12 which also becomes the front of the lock (see figure 1). Mounting plate 12 is provided with an elongate slot 13 through which an external handle 14 projects. Handle 14 in the particular embodiment is a paddle- type handle although no particular limitation is meant thereby. The handle has an exterior portion 16 which sits outside the lock, and an interior portion which extends into the lock. The interior portion is provided with some features. Specifically, the interior portion of the handle contains an elongate bead 16 which is pivoted at upper and lower ends thereof to the remainder of the handle assembly to enable the external handle 14 to pivot relative to the handle assembly. Bead 16 is formed or otherwise joined to the inner face 17 of handle 14. Attached to bead 16 and to inner face 17 is an engaging means which in the particular embodiment comprises a pair of spaced apart blocks 18. Thus, pivoting of external handle 14 causes pivoting of bead 16 and inner face 17 and therefore pivoting or rotation of blocks 18. Positioned below blocks 18 and also attached to bead 16 and inner face 17 is an engaging portion 19 which forms part of the deadlocking assembly and which will be described in greater detail below. A deadlocking assembly forms part of the handle assembly 11 and is attached to the handle assembly. The deadlocking assembly comprises a sliding deadlocking member 20. Member 20 has a forked nose portion 21 which defines a recess 22. Engaging portion 19 also has a nose portion 23 that sits within recess 22 but only when member 20 has been moved to the deadlocking position which is illustrated in figure 4. In this position, nose portion 23 is captured by member 20 and therefore nose portion 23 cannot pivot. Because of this, handle 14 is also prevented from operating and the outcome is that the handle is now deadlocked. Sliding member 20 can slide between the deadlocking position illustrated in figure 4 and a retracted position (not illustrated) where sliding member 20 has been withdrawn from engagement with nose portion 23 and therefore handle 14 can now again be rotated. The sliding member 20 is operated between the deadlocking position and the un- deadlocking position by a key barrel 24. This arrangement is quite conventional and key barrel 24 contains a cam 25 which sits within a slot 26 formed in sliding member 20. As a key is inserted into the key barrel and rotated, cam 25 will also rotate and this will cause sliding member 20 to move between the deadlocking position illustrated in figure 4, and a retracted un-deadlocking position (not illustrated).

Thus, handle assembly 11 is quite comprehensive and contains the handle itself, the engagement means (blocks) 18, and the deadlocking mechanism.

Handle assembly 11 also contains upper and lower attachment means 27, 28 (lower attachment means 28 not illustrated) to enable the handle assembly to be fitted to the bolt housing assembly 10 as will be described in greater detail below. Referring now to the bolt housing assembly 10, this is best illustrated in figure 5 and figure 3. The bolt housing assembly 10 houses a pair of hook bolts 30, 31. These bolts contain a forward "hook" portion which extends from the lock, and a rear main body portion 32 (best illustrated in figure 3) and which sits inside the lock. The main body portion 32 contains an inwardly extending pivot portion 33 which is formed integrally with the main body portion 32, the reason for which will be described in greater detail below. Each hook bolt 30, 31 is rotatably attached to a housing portion 34 (see figure 5) to enable each hook bolt to rotate between a locking position illustrated in figure 5 and figure 3, and an unlocking position (not illustrated) where the hook bolts have been rotated away from each other.

The bolt housing assembly 10 also contains an operating member 35 which operates the hook bolts. Operating member 35 is shown in cross-section in figure 3 and part of the operating member 35 is also illustrated in figure 5. The operating member comprises a sliding block that sits within the bolt housing assembly and which can slide or reciprocate between a first position (illustrated in figure 3) which is furthest away from the front 36 of the lock, and a second position (not illustrated), where the sliding block has been pushed closer towards the front 36 of the lock. The sliding distance is not great and may be between 3-10 millimetres but this is sufficient to operate the hook bolts. Sliding block 35 contains recesses which accommodate the pivot portions 33 of each hook bolt, this being clearly illustrated in figure 3. Sliding block 35 is biased by a spring 37 into the first position (that is away from front 36).

Each hook bolt 30, 31 contains a cutout portion 38 in the main body portion 32.

In use, sliding block 35 can be pushed from the position illustrated in figure 3 to a position closer to front 36 (illustrated by arrow 40). This sliding movement will cause the hook bolts 30, 31 to rotate away from each other, and this rotation is facilitated by the cutout portion 38 which enables the hook bolts to rotate without striking the outside wall of sliding block 35. When the pushing force is released, spring 37 will cause the sliding block to move back to the position illustrated in figure 3 which will return the hook bolts back to the lock/latch position illustrated in figure 3.

Housing portion 34 (see figure 5) is provided with a horizontal slot 41 which captures a small protrusion 42 in sliding block 35, and which limits the degree of sliding movement of sliding block 35.

Sliding block 35 is caused to slide by engagement with blocks 18 on handle assembly 11. Specifically, blocks 18 have a special configuration illustrated in figure 4, and sliding block 35 contains suitably sized recesses in which the blocks 18 can pass. Thus, blocks 18 engage with sliding block 35.

To operate the lock, handle 14 can be pulled to open the sliding window and to cause rotation about bead 16. This, in turn, causes rotation of blocks

18. Rotation of blocks 18 will cause sliding block 35 to be pushed forwardly to open up the hook bolts. Upon release of handle 14, spring 37 will be sufficient to bring the hook bolts back to the locking position. If it is desired to deadlock the lock, a key is inserted into key barrel 24 and the key is rotated to cause deadlocking member 20 to engage with engaging portion 19 to prevent the handle 14 from moving.

The lock arrangement also has an "anti-slam" mechanism, which means that the hook bolts will not be damaged or broken should the sliding window or door

.be slid shut without operating handle 14. Should this happen, the particular configuration of the hook portion of hook bolts 30, 31 will cause the hook bolts to ride over the striker/keeper 43 (see figure 7) and this will cause the operating member 35 to be momentarily pulled forwardly in the direction of arrow 40. Once the hook bolts are on the other side of striker/keeper 43, they will return to the latched position and operating member 34 will return to its natural position illustrated in figure 3.

As mentioned previously, an advantage of the invention is that the bolt housing assembly 10 and the handle assembly 11, when installed into the lock stile, become permanently snapped together onto the lock stile. This is facilitated by attachment means 27 on the handle assembly 11 and attachment means 50 on the bolt housing assembly 10. Attachment means 50 comprise deformable fingers having a press lock function by containing a ramped portion 51 that rides over and snaps into attachment means 27. Thus, when the two parts are connected, the arrangement is as illustrated in figure 6.

Other advantages of the invention include:

handle is fully reversible (non-handed) allowing assembly for left and right hand applications lock body and furniture snap together (into the processed extrusion) without the need for any mechanical fixings in the assembly process - locking tongues incorporate an anti-lift mechanism as an added security feature the cylinder is pre-lockable allowing window to be shut at any time after the cylinder has been locked (children at home after parents leave can shut window and it is guaranteed to be locked) - the lock incorporates a one touch open able action, ideal for people with disabilities i.e. arthritis

Throughout the specification and the claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. A lock having a pair of hook bolts, the hook bolts being movable between an unlocking position and a locking position, an operating member in the lock which is operatively associated with the hook bolts such that movement of the operating member causes movement of the hook bolts, and an external handle which is movable between a lock opening position and a closed position, the external handle being operatively associated with the operating member such that movement of the external handle causes movement of the operating member.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein the hook bolts form part of a bolt housing assembly, and the handle forms part of a handle assembly, the bolt housing assembly and the handle assembly adapted to be snap fitted together in a lock stile.

3. The lock of claim 2, wherein the bolt housing assembly is reversible.

4. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock is fitted to a sliding window or a sliding door .

5. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock fits into a lock stile.

6. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hook bolts are oppositely rotating hook bolts.

7. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each hook bolt has a leading hook portion extending from the lock, at least when the lock is in the locking position, and has a main body portion that stays within the confines of the lock, the main body portion being attached to another part of the lock to enable the hook bolts to pivot between the unlocked and locked positions.

8. The lock as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main body portion contains an inwardly extending pivot portion which engages directly or indirectly with the operating member

9. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating member comprises a sliding member that is adapted for sliding movement within the lock body, the sliding member being slidable between a first position where the hook bolts are in the locked position and a second position where the hook bolts have been moved to the unlocked position.

10. The lock as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sliding member is biased to the first position which means that the hook bolts are naturally biased into the locked position.

11. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating member comprises a sliding block which contains a recess to accommodate the pivot portion in each hook bolt.

12. The lock as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sliding block contains limit means to prevent excessive movement of the sliding block, the limit means comprising a projection on the sliding block that extends within a slot somewhere else in the lock.

13. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein hook bolts and the operating member is formed in a subassembly which comprises the bolt housing assembly.

14. The lock as claimed in claim 13, wherein the subassembly further contains a housing portion in which the operating member is housed and to which the hook bolts are rotatably attached, the housing portion containing a slot which acts as a limit on sliding movement of the operating member.

15. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external handle comprises a paddle which is rotatable about an axis which is substantially at right angles to the pivot axis of the hook bolts.

16. The lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle has an inner face that projects into the lock, the inner face having longitudinal bead which comprises part of a pivot axis, the longitudinal bead being mounted for pivotal movement relative to another part of the lock or another part of the external handle assembly.

17. The lock as claimed in claim 1, including a deadlocking means.

18. The lock as claimed in claim 17, wherein the deadlocking means comprises a slide member which has an engaging portion which engages with the handle.