GB2301140A

GB2301140A - Fastening mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2301140A
Application number: GB9510227A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur David Tippin; Peter James Harrison
Original assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-20
Filing date: 1995-05-20
Publication date: 1996-11-27
Also published as: GB9510227D0; AU5240096A

Abstract

A fastening mechanism for a door or window has at least two spaced apart bolting members 6 mounted on a slide bar 7 for simultaneous engagement with corresponding spaced apart keepers 5 in a locked condition. The slide bar 7 has a projection 11 received in a dog-leg recess 12 of a link 9 whereby the link 9 is pivotal in response to movement of the slide bar 7 to co-act with one of the keepers 5 to cause relative movement of the bolting members 6 and keepers 5 transverse to the direction of movement of the slide bar 7 for establishing the locked condition.

Description

FASTENING MECHANISM FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS This invention relates to fastening mechanisms for doors and windows of the kind comprising an opening wing (the door or sash) mounted in an outer frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, and in particular multi-point fastening mechanisms of the type in which the wing is secured to the outer frame in the closed position at a plurality of spaced positions for improved security against forced entry.

Multi-point fastening mechanisms are already known in which a plurality of spaced apart bolting members on one of the wing and outer frame and a corresponding plurality of spaced apart keepers on the other of the wing and frame are arranged for simultaneous engagement to secure the wing in the closed position.

Typically, the keepers are fixed and the bolting members are interconnected for simultaneous movement between locked and unlocked positions to engage and disengage the keepers when the wing is closed by rotation of an operating handle.

Securing the wing and frame at a plurality of spaced apart positions provides improved security but problems can arise if one or more of the bolting members does not engage the associated keeper when the mechanism is actuated to secure the wing relative to the frame. For example, incorrect mounting or warping of the wing or the presence of a weatherseal may prevent one or more of the bolting members aligning with the associated keeper when the wing is closed.

When this occurs, the mechanism may jam preventing operation and, in extreme cases, the mechanism andlor the wing and frame may be damaged if excessive force is applied to the mechanism by the user. This is a particular problem when fitting the mechanism to a relatively large wing and frame.

A solution to this problem is to arrange for sequential engagement of the bolting members and keepers so that, as each bolting members engages the associated keeper, the next bolting member in the sequence is positioned for engagement with the associated keeper until all of the bolting members and keepers are engaged.

Sequential engagement may be achieved if the spacing between the keepers is different to the spacing between the bolting members but the overall movement required to engage all of the bolting members and keepers is increased and, in certain cases, it may not be possible to obtain the necessary movement. This is again a particular problem when fitting the mechanism to a relatively large wing and frame It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastening mechanism for doors and windows in which the opening wing (the door or sash) can be secured to the outer frame at a plurality of spaced apart positions.

According to one aspect of the present invention a fastening mechanism for a door or window having an opening wing (the door or sash) mounted in a frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions comprises a plurality of spaced apart bolting members for mounting on one of the wing and frame, a corresponding plurality of spaced apart keepers for mounting on the other of the wing and frame, drive means connecting the bolting members for movement to engage simultaneously the corresponding keepers in a locked condition for securing the wing at a plurality of spaced apart positions in the closed position, and guide means mounted on said one of the wing and frame for pivotal movement in response to actuation of the drive means to co-act with at least one keeper in establishing the locked condition.

By this invention, actuation of the drive means for the bolting members causes pivotal movement of the guide means to co-act with at least one of the keepers to move the wing towards the closed position so that the bolting members are brought into alignment with the corresponding keepers for simultaneous engagement therewith in the locked condition.

Preferably, the guide means co-acts with the keeper to cause relative movement of the keeper and associated bolting member in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the bolting member by the drive means whereby the bolting member is aligned for engagement with the keeper.

Advantageously, the drive means connects the bolting members for linear sliding movement between the locked condition and an unlocked condition in which the bolting members and keepers are disengaged, and the guide means is preferably engageable with the keeper in the unlocked condition.

Preferably, the drive means and guide means have co-operating formations for pivoting the guide means to co-act with the keeper.

In a preferred construction, the guide means comprises a pivotal link with a cam recess for reception of a cam follower associated with the drive means for controlling pivotal movement of the link to co-act with the keeper.

Advantageously, the cam follower comprises a pin and the cam recess has a dog-leg profile for co-operating with the pin in response to linear displacement of the drive means to pivot the link to co-act with the keeper.

Preferably, each keeper has a ramp face leading to a platform face with the ramp face being inclined and the platform face parallel to the direction of movement of the associated bolting member by the drive means whereby the associated bolting member moves along the ramp face onto the platform face in the locked condition, and the guide means is preferably pivotal to co-act with the ramp face of the keeper.

Advantageously, the drive means is operable to move the wing between open and closed positions and to establish the locked condition when the wing is closed.

According to another aspect of the invention a fastening mechanism for a door or window having a frame and a movable wing comprises respective sets of spaced apart detent members on the frame and wing, drive means for moving one of the sets of detent members to engage simultaneously the other set of detent members in a locked condition, and guide means arranged to co-act with the other set of detent members in response to actuation of the drive means for establishing the locked condition.

Preferably, the guide means comprises a link mounted for pivotal movement in response to actuation of the drive means to co-act with a detent member of the other set.

Advantageously, said one set of detent members comprises bolting members and said other set of detent members comprises ramped keepers engaged by the bolting members in the locked condition.

Other features, benefits and advantages of the invented fastening mechanism will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a transverse section of part of a window showing a glazed sash secured in a closed position relative to an outer frame by a fastening mechanism according to the present invention; and FIGURES 2A.2B.2C.2D and 2E illustrate five successive positions of the fastening mechanism according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, part of a window is shown in Figure 1 comprising a rectangular outer frame 1 having a rebate 2 in which a glazed sash 3 is received and secured in a closed position by a fastening mechanism 4.

As will be understood the sash 3 may be supported in the outer frame 1 for pivotal movement about either a horizontal axis or a vertical axis for moving the sash 3 between the closed position and a fully open position (not shown). The sash 3 may be held in the fully open position or selected intermediate positions between the closed and fully open positions by any suitable means.

In this embodiment, the outer frame 1 and sash 3 are assembled from respective frame members la and 3a cut to length from extruded sections of plastics such as PVCu having the profile shown and joined at the corners by any suitable means. It will be understood however that other materials including timber and metal may be used for one or both of the outer frame 1 and sash 3.

The fastening mechanism 4 has two keepers 5 (one only shown in Figure 1) that are mounted at spaced apart positions on the side edge 3b of the sash 3 remote from the hinge axis and two spaced apart bolting members 6 (one only shown in Figure 1) mounted on the opposed side edge 1 b of the outer frame 1 in the rebate 2.

The bolting members 6 are cylindrical and are attached at one end to an elongate flat bar 7 of rectangular section secured to the side edge Ib of the outer frame 1 for sliding movement lengthwise thereof between end positions defined by engagement of respective fixing screws (not shown) in elongate slots 8 in the bar 7.

The end positions correspond to locked and unlocked conditions of the fastening mechanism 4 with the keepers 5 and bolting members 6 being equidistantly spaced apart for simultaneous engagement to secure the sash 3 in the closed position.

A manually operable handle (not shown) is mounted on an inner face 1c of the outer frame 1 and is operatively connected to the bar 7 by drive means (not shown) including gearing for converting rotational movement of the handle into sliding movement of the bar 7 for moving the bar 7 between the end positions.

Each keeper 5 has a respective ramp face Sa at each end inclined to the direction of sliding movement of the bar 7 and leading to a platform face Sb extending parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the bar 7.

Each bolting member 6 moves along the ramp face 5a at one end of the associated keeper 5 onto the platform face Sb on rotation of the handle to move the fastening mechanism 4 to the locked condition for securing the sash 3 in the closed position.

This engagement of the bolting members 6 with the ramp face Sa of the associated keeper 5 pulls the sash 3 into the rebate 2 in the closed position and may be used to compress a pair of elastomeric fin seals 13alb fitted around the peripheral edge of the sash 3 for engagement with the outer frame 1 to provide a weathertight seal.

The fastening mechanism 4 further includes a guide link 9 mounted in the rebate 2 on the side edge Ib of the outer frame 1 for limited pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the bar 7 to co-act with one of the keepers 5 to position the bolting members 6 for engagement with the respective keepers S.

The link 9 overlies the bar 7 and has a nose 10 projecting from one end which is arranged for engagement with the ramp face 5a of the co-acting keeper 5 and is chamfered on the underside at 10a.

The bar 7 has a follower pin 11 arranged to be received in a dog-leg recess 12 formed in the link 9 for pivoting the link 10 in response to sliding movement of the bar 7. The recess 12 has a lead-in section 12a and a tail section 12b extending at an angle to the lead-in section 12a.

Figure 2A shows the locked condition of the fastening mechanism 4 in which the bolting members 6 are located on the platform faces Sb of the associated keepers S and the lead-in section 12a of the recess 12 is arranged parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the bar 7 with the follower pin 11 aligned with and axially spaced therefrom.

On rotation of the handle to move the bar 7 to the left as viewed in Figure 2A, the follower pin 11 enters the lead-in section 12a when the bolting members 6 move off the platform face 5b onto the ramp face 5a of the associated keeper 5 as shown in Figure 28.

As the bar 7 moves further to the left, the follower pin 11 moves along the lead-in section 12a and reaches the junction with the tail section 12b when the bolting members 6 reach the end of the ramp face 5a of the associated keeper 5 at which point the nose 10 engages the ramp face 5a as shown in Figure 2C.

As the bar 7 moves further to the left, the bolting members 6 disengage the associated keeper 5 to allow the sash 3 to be opened and the follower pin 11 moves along the tail section 12b causing the link 9 to pivot in an anticlockwise direction while maintaining contact between the nose 10 and the ramp face 5a as shown in Figure 2D.

Eventually the position shown in Figure 2E is reached in which the follower pin 11 is at the end of the tail section 12b and the nose 10 is at the end of the ramp face Sa. This corresponds to the fully open position of the sash 3.

If the handle is now rotated in the opposite sense to move the bar 7 to the right as viewed in Figure 2E, the above-described operating sequence is reversed and the follower pin 11 moves back along the tail section 12b towards the lead-in section 12a causing the link 9 to pivot in a clockwise direction so that the nose 9 co-acts with the ramp face Sa of the keeper 5 to pull the keeper 5 and sash 3 in a direction transverse to sliding movement of the bar 7 bringing the bolting members 6 into alignment with the end of the ramp face Sa of the associated keeper 5. In this way engagement of the bolting members 6 with the associated keepers 5 is ensured in the locked condition of the fastening mechanism 4 when the sash 3 is closed.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described. For example, a separate link may be arranged to co-act with each keeper to position the associated bolting member for engagement therewith.

The arrangement of the bolting members and keepers on the outer frame and sash may be reversed.

More than two pairs of spaced apart bolting members and keepers may be provided on one or more opposed side edges of the outer frame and sash for securing the sash in the closed position.

Claims

Claims:

1. A fastening mechanism for a door or window having an opening wing (the door or sash) mounted in a frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions comprises a plurality of spaced apart bolting members for mounting on one of the wing and frame, a corresponding plurality of spaced apart keepers for mounting on the other of the wing and frame. drive means connecting the bolting members for movement to engage simultaneously the corresponding keepers in a locked condition for securing the wing at a plurality of spaced apart positions in the closed position, and guide means mounted on said one of the wing and frame for pivotal movement in response to actuation of the drive means to co-act with at least one keeper in establishing the locked condition.

2. A fastening mechanism according to Claim I wherein the guide means co-acts with the keeper to cause relative movement of the keeper and associated bolting member in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the bolting member by the drive means whereby the bolting member is aligned for engagement with the keeper.

3. A fastening mechanism according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the drive means connects the bolting members for linear sliding movement between the locked condition and an unlocked condition in which the bolting members and keepers are disengaged.

4. A fastening mechanism according to Claim 3 wherein the guide means is engageable with the keeper in the unlocked condition.

S. A fastening mechanism according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the guide means comprises a pivotal link.

6. A fastening mechanism according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the drive means and guide means have co-operating formations for pivoting the guide means to co-act with the keeper.

7. A fastening mechanism according to Claim 6 wherein the co-operating formations comprise a cam recess and a cam follower.

8. A fastening mechanism according to Claim 7 wherein the cam follower comprises a pin and the cam recess has a dog-leg profile for co-operating with the pin in response to linear displacement of the drive means to pivot the guide means to co-act with the keeper.

9. A fastening mechanism according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each keeper has a ramp face leading to a platform face with the ramp face being inclined and the platform face parallel to the direction of movement of the associated bolting member by the drive means whereby the associated bolting member moves along the ramp face onto the platform face in the locked condition.

10. A fastening mechanism according to Claim 9 wherein the guide means is pivotal to co-act with the ramp face of the keeper.

11. A fastening mechanism according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the drive means is operable to move the wing between open and closed positions and to establish the locked condition when the wing is closed.

12. A fastening mechanism for a door or window having a frame and a movable wing comprises respective sets of spaced apart detent members on the frame and wing, drive means for moving one of the sets of detent members to engage simultaneously the other set of detent members in a locked condition, and guide means arranged to co-act with the other set of detent members in response to actuation of the drive means for establishing the locked condition.

13. A fastening mechanism according to Claim 11 wherein the guide means comprises a link mounted for pivotal movement in response to actuation of the drive means to co-act with a detent member of the other set.

14. A fastening mechanism according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein said one set of detent members comprises bolting members and said other set of detent members comprises ramped keepers engaged by the bolting members in the locked condition.

15. A fastening mechanism for a door or window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.