GB2208173A

GB2208173A - Espagnolette drive housing

Info

Publication number: GB2208173A
Application number: GB8814184A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond John Tarbet; Joseph Fergusson; Michael Roland Locke
Original assignee: Smith Wallis & Co Ltd
Current assignee: Smith Wallis & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-27
Filing date: 1988-06-15
Publication date: 1989-03-08
Also published as: GB8715151D0; GB8814184D0

Abstract

The housing 16 which, in use, is received within moving frame 60 of a window/door frame assembly comprises pressed sheet metal parts 16a, 16b is provided with a cast or moulded extension piece 50 (150,250 Figure 4) of a shape and size enabling the extension piece to cooperate with a groove 51 of the frame 60 remote from sliding bar 12 of the Espagnolette 10 to stabilise the housing 16 against undesired movement. Piece 50 may be zinc/zinc alloy or nylon. A number of different cast or moulded extension pieces 50 (150,250) may be provided, and an appropriate one of the extension pieces 50 (150,250) may be selected to suit the cross-section of a given frame, thereby avoiding the cost of provided differently shaped pressed metal parts to suit the different cross-sections of different frames. Piece 50 (150,250) may extend collinearly with drive portion of housing or have an offset extremity. The Espagnolette drive as shown has a pinion 24 drivingly engaged by shaft (28, Figure 1) on operating handle 30 and drivingly engaging a rack member 18 carried by bar 12; in alternative arrangements cam and cam follower means may be utilised for affecting movement of the bar 12 in response to rotation of the handle 30. Parts 16a, 16b are held together by rivets/bosses 36 incorporating threaded holes for screws 37 - and as seen in Figure 3 portions 56 of piece 50 have apertures 55 to receive rivets/bosses 36. Edge portions 57 may act as stop means preventing overshoot, limiting movement of handle 30 when abutted by the pion 24. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Espagnolette Drive Housing" Description of Invention This invention relates to an Espagnolette drive, and more particularly to an Espagnolette drive housing and parts therefor.

The term "Espagnolette" whilst originally used to refer to a fastening for a French Window or the like which achieves locking at two distinct points such as the top and bottom of the window, is now used in the building fittings trade in a more generalised sense which includes any "multipoint" locking system in which locking occurs at a plurality of distinct points, which points may for example be on a common edge of a wing, and particularly in relation to the present invention, includes systems in which there is a sliding bar movable to effect movement of locking lugs at distinct locations, which lugs engage respective keepers to achieve locking. The lugs may be carried by the bar.

Such systems are used on wings, especially windows, which turn about generally vertical axes, and on wings that tilt about generally horizontal axes.

Such systems are also used on wings capable of both such movements, for fastening the wings and/or (in conjunction with appropriate other fittings) for changing between "turn and tilt" modes.

A general requirement is that in use, it should be possible to produce longitudinal locking or unlocking movement of the sliding bar by rotating a handle mounted on a door/window carrying the bar. Conveniently this may be achieved by use of a drive means comprising a rack mounted or formed on the bar and a pinion which drivingly meshes with the rack and which, in use, is drivingly engaged by the handle. Alternatively, this movement may be achieved by use of drive means comprising a cam and cam follower arrangement, for example an arrangement in which an eccentrically disposed stud driven by the handle is constrained to move in an elongate slot in a member mounted or formed on the bar, or in which a slot in a member driven by the handle engages a stud on or carried by the bar.

Conventionally, the drive means is contained within a housing, herein described as an Espagnolette drive housing, which housing maintains or limits the relative positions and/or spacing of components of the drive means.

Conventionally, an Espagnolette drive housing is formed from pressed sheet metal parts which, when assembled, afford a first region which receives the sliding bar, and a second region which communicates with the first region and accommodates much of the drive means, the second region being generally perpendicular to the first region. The second region may extend from a generally central portion of the first region, or, in the case of socalled "offset" designs, from a generally lateral portion of the first region.

In particular, the part of the drive means which in use is driven by the handle is sandwiched between opposed sheet metal portions of the housing which at least partially define the second region and which are conventionally held together and maintained in spaced relationship by one or more rivet means which may also double as bosses with threaded holes for receiving mounting screws such as are conventionally associated with a handle.

Conventionally, the sheet metal parts are formed so as to meet specific dimensional requirements set by the dimensions of a frame member of a wing, on or within which frame member the housing is to be accommodated in use.

There is a general requirement that excessive pulling of the handle in a generally axial direction (i.e. away from the frame) should not cause excessive movement of the Espagnolette drive components. In the case of wooden frame members in which the housing is received as a tight fit in a purpose-made recess, such excessive movement should not arise, but in more modern extruded frames of metal (e.g. aluminium) or plastics (e.g.UPVC) which are of generally hollow form, there is a tendency for the portion of the housing containing the drive means to be left essentially in "mid-air" in a hollow of the frame when the Espagnolette drive is mounted on the frame, and so, where the handle is mounted by being secured to the housing e.g. via screws received by the aforesaid bosses, the screws passing through holes in the frame, axial pulling of the handle will produce a substantial movement and deflection of the Espagnolette drive, resulting in undue potentially damaging flexing and stressing of the drive and frame and, over a period of time, resulting in a general slackness of the fastening as a whole which is detrimental to security.

In order to avoid such flexing/movement, some frame members e.g. for "offset" Espagnolettes, are formed with integral stabilising recesses with walls which lie closely against said housing portion in its entirety, as a tight fit, to provide stability, but these frames are exceptional.

More generally, it is not convenient to provide frames with tight-fitting stabilising recesses in the required positions, and so it has become customary for Espagnolette drive designers to provide Espagnolette drive housings which are custom-made to extend completely across the hollows in specific frame members, so as to be stabilised by engagement of an extremity of the housing with such reinforcing ribs or drainage means as may already be formed on the side of the frame remote from the sliding bar.

Thus, For each design of frame cross-section it has been customary to produce custom-made pressed sheet metal parts to provide housings which will suit the frame cross-section in this way.

Due to the large number of different frame cross-sections in existence, and the fact that there is in any case more than one standard distance between the sliding bar and the handle axis, it will be appreciated that a vast number of sets of press tools are required in order to provide a sufficient range of pressed metal housing parts to meet the various dimensional requirements imposed.

Press tools, are very expensive indeed, and so the cost of providing such a range can be prohibitive.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved Espagnolette drive, Espagnolette drive housing and parts therefor.

According to the present invention, there is provided, in or for an Espagnolette drive housing, an extension piece adapted to be mounted on the housing, whereby the housing may be extended.

Preferably the extension piece is adapted to be mounted on a drive portion of the housing, whereby the drive portion of the housing may be extended.

The extension piece may be formed by casting, such as by die-casting, preferably from a metal/alloy of suitable strength, or by moulding, such as by injection moulding, such as from synthetic material such as plastics material, and may for example be formed by moulding thereof from nylon.

In this manner, it is possible to provide basic pressed metal Espagnolette housing parts to some standard design (or in some small number of standard designs to suit a small number of standard sliding-bar to handleaxis distances) and then simply select an appropriate extension piece for inclusion in the housing to provide overall dimensions which will suit a specified hollow-type frame in which the Espagnolette drive is to be used, to enable an extremity of the extension piece to engage a formation on the frame so as to stabilise the housing against undue movement/deflection.

Since the extension pieces may be formed by die-casting or moulding, for which tooling can be relatively inexpensive, a complete range of such extension pieces may be provided, capable of adapting the standard housing(s) to suit any of the many frame designs currently available and proposed, yet at much-reduced cost. Similarly, very special extension pieces may be provided in small numbers without undue tooling costs.

The extension pieces may be provided in a plurality of discrete sizes affording a respective plurality of extensions, which sizes/extensions may differ from each other in steps of suitable magnitude (e.g. about 2mm).

The extension piece may extend the housing generally collinearly with the drive portion of the housing, but alternatively, to suit given frames, the extremity of the extension piece which engages the side of the frame remote from the sliding bar may be offset in relation to the basic drive portion.

Advantageously the extension piece is adapted to be mounted on the drive portion of the housing by way of formations which cooperate with mounting means for the handle, and preferably the extension piece comprises one or more apertures (e.g. through holes) through which, on assembly, one or more rivets/bosses which connect the pressed sheet metal portions of the drive portion of the housing are respectively received.

Thus, in the assembled housing, the extension piece may be held securely in the housing, sandwiched between said sheet metal portions and prevented from escape by the presence of said rivets/bosses in said apertures.

Preferably the extension piece is capable of acting as a main (or reserve) end stop for defining limits of movement of a drive part which, in use is rotatably driven by the handle, and, where the extension piece is held as described in the two preceding paragraphs, may be effective to spread load between said mounting formations.

The invention also provides an Espagnolette drive including an Espagnolette drive housing having, or adapted to receive, such an extension piece.

One embodiment of the invention, from which the features and advantages of the invention will be apparent, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of parts of an Espagnolette fastener including an Espagnolette drive housing incorporating an extension piece in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a partly cross-sectional, partly cut away plan view of the fastener of Figure I when mounted on a hollow frame member; FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the housing; and FIGURE 4 is a set of end views, respectively of the extension piece shown in Figures 1 to 3 and, for comparison, of alternative extension pieces in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, parts of a fastening of the "Espagnolette" type are designated generally by the numeral 10, these being the parts which, in use, would be generally mounted on the moving frame of a window/door frame assembly.

The fastening includes a sliding bar 12 which carries two lugs 14 at distinct locations thereon. In use, these lugs are simultaneously engaged or disengaged with respective keepers (not shown) which would be mounted on the other (usually fixed) frame member of said assembly, as a result of appropriate longitudinal sliding movement of the bar 12, in order respectively to lock or unlock the assembly.

It will be appreciated that such "multipoint locking" affords greater security than other fastenings in which locking occurs at one location only, and it will be appreciated that in order that maximum security may be obtained, the fastening should be securely mounted on the frame.

The sliding bar 12 passes through a two-part pressed sheet metal housing 16 which, in use is received within the frame (see Figure 2). In this example, the bar 12 carries a rack member 18 comprising a series of longitudinally spaced teeth 20 of generally uniform height which are meshingly drivingly engaged by teeth 22 of a pinion 24 rotatably mounted in the housing 16, the pinion 24 having a square apeture 26 therein which, in use, is drivingly engaged by a square shaft 28 on an operating handle 30 which in use is mounted on a frame member 60.

Thus, in use, rotation of the handle 30 causes rotation of the pinion 24 which consequently drives the rack 1^8 from the bar 12 longitudinally in a direction determined by the sense of rotation of the handle 30, so as to effect locking or inlocking movement of the lugs 14 as desired.

In alternative arrangements, cam and cam follower means may be utilised for effecting such movement of the bar 12 in response to rotation of the handle 30.

A hub of the pinion (or alternative drive means) is rotatably received in corresponding circular apertures in opposite side portions of the housing 16, in conventiona! manner.

The housing 16 is formed from two pieces 16a, 16b held together by rivets/bosses 36 incorporating threaded holes for receiving mounting screws 37 (only one of which is shown, in Figure 2) associated with the handle 30. A dividing line 40 between these pieces lies behind the bar 12, to improve the strength of the housing and prevent ingress of dust or dirt.

The disadvantages of conventional Espagnolette drive housings in which, in use, the housing lies substantially in "mid-air" within a hollow region of a frame member are discussed in the introductory paragraphs of this specification, to which, for the avoidance of repetition, reference is expressly directed.

In the case of the fastening 10, it will be observed from Figure 2 that the pieces 1 6a, 1 6b, which are of conventional or generally conventional dimensions, terminate short of the side 61 of the frame 60 remote from the bar 12, and thus the pieces 16a, 16b illustrated would not by themselves afford resistance to movement and deflection of the housing 16 in response to pulling of the handle 30 in an axial direction indicated by the arrow A, which pulling would result in stressing of the fastening and eventual slackening thereof which is detrimental to security.

Conventionally, it would be necessary to make a housing of alternative pressed metal parts which in use would extend completely across the frame 60 and engage the side 61 to prevent such deflection, but it will be appreciated that due to the exceptionally large number of frames available, provision of suitable alternative housings comprising such alternative pressed metal parts to suit the large number of frames available, would be prohibitively expensive.

In the Espagnolette drive housing in accordance with the invention, however, as may be seen from Figure 2, an extension piece 50 mounted on the drive portion of the housing 16 is received in a groove 51 of the extruded frame 60 so that the housing 16 is thus stabilised, particularly by abutment of the piece 50 with a surface 52 of the groove 51, against undue movement thereof in response to pulling of the handle 30 in the direction A.

It will be observed that this result is achieved even though the pieces 16a, 16b are of essentially standard dimensions (except for omission of turned-over lips which would conventionally be provided along their edges furthest from the bar 12), so avoiding the previous necessity of providing a specially pressed housing.

The extension piece 50 in this example of the invention is formed by diecasting from a suitable metal/alloy (e.g. zinc/zinc alloy) and so is far cheaper in terms of tooling and other production costs than the tooling and other costs associated with production of an alternative set of pressed metal housing parts, and so a full range of alternative such extension pieces may be provided to suit essentially any frame member, without prohibitive cost.

It will be observed from Figure 2 that the member 50 does not completely fill the groove 51, which groove can therefore still carry out its original purpose which in this instance was to provide for water drainage.

A plurality of different sizes of such extension pieces may be provided e.g. differing from each other in steps of about 2mm size, for use with housing parts 16a, 16b or alternative standard housing parts in which the bar 1 2 to handle-axis distance is another of a small number of standard such distances.

As may be seen from Figure 3, lobe-like portions 56 of the extension piece 50 comprise apertures 55 through which, during assembly, the rivets/bosses 36 are passed, before the components 36, 36, 50, 24, 12 and 18 are sandwiched between the housing parts 16a, 16b. The ends of the rivets 36 are subsequently spread to maintain said assembly.

Thus the piece 50 is securely held between said housing parts 16a, lAb and prevented from escape by the presence of the rivets/bosses 36.

In this example, rotation of the handle (and hence the pinion) through about 900 on either side of a central position corresponds to the full range of desired movement of the bar 12, and the rack member 18 is provided with enlarged stop formations 32 which, by virtue cf their shape, are cooperatingly abutted by the pinion at respective limits of movement to define said limits of movement and to prevent overshoot.

Additionally, however, the piece 50 is able to act as an additional/alternative end stop means, operative if and when the pinion abuts one or other of two respective edge portions 57 (see Figure 3) of the piece 50.

Such abutment with said edge portions 57 has the advantage of distributing the load to be borne by the fastening at said limits between the two bosses 36, thereby minimising risk of damage or overshoot.

Referring now to Figure 4, there are illustrated, in addition to an end view of the piece 50, end views of alternative extension pieces 150 and 250 having respective alternative shapes and sizes. The alternative extension piece 150 is generally similar to the piece 50, except that it is of larger size (in a direction which in use, extends away from the sliding bar 12) so as to be suited to a frame comprising broader frame members, whilst the piece 250 is of an intermediate size, adapted to suit a frame of intermediate broadness, the profile of the piece 250 being offset to take account of a situation where a groove suitable for receiving an extremity of the extension piece is not collinear with the in-use position of the drive means of the Espagnolette drive housing.

Thus extension pieces in accordance with the invention may be utilised to adapt a small number of basic housings to suit substantially any frame profile that may be provided.

Whilst the extension piece 50 has been described above as being formed by die-casting from metal, still further cost savings may be achieved by instead forming extension pieces in accordance with the invention by moulding (e.g. injection moulding) thereof from synthetic material, such as from plastics material. The respective extension pieces are advantageously formed by moulding thereof from nylon, which gives sufficient strength together with the benefits of corrosion resistance and reduced cost.

It is to be understood that although the invention has been described in relation to a so-called "offset" Espagnolette in which the drive means is laterally disposed in relation to the sliding bar, the invention is also applicable to Espagnolette drives in which the drive means is disposed generally centrally in relation to the sliding bar.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

In In or for an Espangnolette drive housing, an extension piece adapted to be mounted on the housing, whereby the housing may be extended.
2. An extension piece according to Claim I which is adapted to be mounted on a drive portion of the housing, whereby the drive portion of the housing may be extended.
3. An extension piece according to Claim I or Claim 2 which is formed by casting or moulding thereof.
4. An extension piece according to Claim 3 which is formed by moulding thereof from synthetic material.
5. An extension piece according to Claim 4.which is formed from plastics material.
6. An extension piece according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 which is formed from nylon.
7. An extension piece according to any one of Claims 3 to 6 which is formed by injection moulding.
8. An extension piece according to Claim 3 which is formed by diecasting.
9. An extension piece according to Claim 8 which is formed from a metal/alloy of suitable strength.
10. An extension piece according to any one of the preceding claims which extends the housing generally collinearly with the drive portion of the housing.
I. An extension piece according to any one of Claims I to 9 having an offset extremity.
12. An extension piece according to any one of the preceding claims which is adapted to be mounted on the drive portion of the housing by way of formations which cooperate with mounting means for a handle.
13. An extension piece according to Claim 12 comprising one or more apertures through which, on assembly, one or more rivets/bosses which connect pressed sheet metal portions of the drive portion of the housing are respectively received.
14. An extension piece according to Claim 13 wherein said apertures are through-holes.
15. An extension piece according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein, in the assembled housing, the extension piece is held sandwiched between said sheet metal portions and prevented from escape by the presence of said rivets/bosses in said apertures.
16. An extension piece according to any one of the preceding claims which is capable of acting as an end stop for defining limits of movement of a drive part which, in use, is rotatably driven by a handle of the Espagnolette.
17. An extension piece according to Claim 16 where dependent upon any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the extension piece, in acting as an end stop, is effective to spread load between said mounting formations.
18. A range of extension pieces, each in accordance with any one of Claims I to 17, from which an appropriate extension piece may be selected to suit a given drive housing in relation to a given frame.
19. A range of extension pieces according to Claim 18 wherein the extension pieces are provided in a plurality of discrete sizes affording a respective plurality of extensions.
20. A range of extension pieces according to Claim 19 wherein said sizes/extensions differ from each other in steps of suitable magnitude.
21. A range of extension pieces according to Claim 20 wherein said steps are of about 2 mm.
22. An Espagnolette drive including an Espagnolette drive housing, having or adapted to receive, an extension piece in accordance with any one of Claims I to 17 or selected from a range of extension pieces in accordance with any one of Claims 18 to 21.
23. An extension piece substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
24. A range of extension pieces substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
25. An Espagnolette drive substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
26. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.