GB2356663A - Catch device for sliding panels - Google Patents

Description

1 2356663 CATCH DEVICE FOR SLIDING PANELS This invention relates to catch

devices primarily, but not exclusively, for sliding panels, such as sliding window panels as used, for example, in the cabs of off-road vehicles.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with catch devices of the kind (hereinafter referred to as "the kind specified") which comprise a body carrying a sliding bolt element for operative engagement with a keeper and a pivoted operating lever element which is angularly movable to advance and retract the bolt to engage it with and disengage it from the keeper, the said elements being provided with cam means arranged to convert angular movement of the lever into rectilinear movement of the bolt.

In one known form of catch device of this kind designed primarily for a hinged window panel the cam means comprise a cam follower projecting from one side of the bolt element and a cam provided on the lever element alongside the bolt element and arranged on angular movement of the lever element to act on the follower to advance and retract the bolt element, the lever element being mounted on the body for pivoting about an axis which extends through the bolt element and is generally aligned with the cam means in the direction of movement of the bolt element.

In this form of catch device it is necessary to provide a slot in the bolt element to accommodate a pivot pin which projects from the body of the 2 device, through the slot and into an aperture in the lever element to form the pivot of the latter. The slot has to be sufficiently large so as to permit sliding movement of the bolt element between its operative and inoperative positions relative to the pivot pin and this has the disadvantage that the slot weakens the bolt element. Making the slot as small as possible in order to minimise weakening of the bolt element reduces the stroke of the bolt element and this may result in the bolt not engaging the keeper as positively as may be required.

This disadvantage would be magnified if the device were used with a sliding window panel.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of catch device of the kind specified primarily for use with a sliding window panel and which, in particular, overcomes the above disadvantages.

According to the invention, in a catch device of the kind specified the pivot of the lever element is located laterally with respect to the bolt element and at a spacing from the latter.

The cam means may also be disposed laterally at a spacing with respect to the bolt element but preferably it is located adjacent to one side of the bolt element.

In a preferr ed embodiment the cam means comprises a follower in the form of a pin projecting from the bolt element at or adjacent one side edge thereof and a cam in the form of a slot formed in the lever element. The slot is 3 preferably a parallel-sided slot which is inclined to the direction of movement of the bolt so that turning of the lever element in one direction causes one side of the cam slot to act on the follower pin thereby to advance the bolt, and turning of the lever element in the other direction causes the other side of the cam slot to act on the pin thereby to retract the bolt. The sides of the slot may be curved but are preferably straight.

As the pivot of the lever element does not lie alongside the bolt element as in the known arrangement described above, it is not necessary to provide a slot in the bolt element to accommodate the pivot. Therefore the bolt element is not weakened and indeed it can be made stronger by increasing its thickness. Also, the device may be designed to provide the bolt with a longer stroke which makes the device better suited to use with a vertically sliding window panel (although it could be used with a hinged window panel).

Preferably the lever element and the body have projecting parts disposed alongside one another so that they can be gripped between a person's thumb and forefinger to operate the lever element.

A further advantage of a catch device according to the invention is that it can be provided with an extension enabling it to operate a remote catch. Thus, the bolt element may be adapted to be operatively connected to a link which is in turn connected to a remote bolt so that, in use, movement of the bolt element is transmitted by the link to the remote bolt to engage and disengage it 4 with and from a keeper.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- FIGURE I is an exploded perspective view showing the individual 5 components of a preferred form of catch device embodying the invention, FIGURE 2 is a perspective view from above showing the device fitted to a sliding window panel of a vehicle cab, FIGURES 3 and 4 are front views of the catch device with the cover removed showing the device in its operative and inoperative positions, FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view from one side showing the catch device illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 fitted with an extension for operating a remote catch, and FIGURE 6 is a perspective view from the opposite side of the extension of the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The catch device illustrated in the drawings comprises a body 1, a sliding bolt 2, an operating lever 3, a cover 4 and a plate 5 for use in mounting the catch device on a vertically sliding window panel P.

The bolt 2 is housed in the body I and guided partly by the upper wall la of the body and a projecting part lb formed integrally with the body for 20 rectilinear sliding movement between an operative position (FIGURE 3) in which a part 2a thereof projects from the body and is engaged with a keeper in the form of a hole or an abutment to lock the window panel P in a closed position, and an inoperative position (FIGURE 4) in which the bolt is completely retracted into the body.

The bolt 2 is also guided in its movement by a forked part 2b formed integrally with it, the legs of the fork sliding on the lower wall I c of the body 1.

The operating lever 3 is also housed in the body alongside the bolt 2.

It is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the body by a boss Ic formed integrally with the body and extending into a hole 3a formed in the lever. The lever 3 is also formed with a parallel-sided slot 3b into which extends a pin 2c formed integrally with the bolt 2 adjacent to one side thereof and carrying a turnable bearing sleeve 6 which is a close sliding fit in the slot 3b.

The bolt 2 is spring-biased to an operative position as shown in FIGURE 3 in which the part 2a of the bolt 2 projects from the body, a coil spring (not shown) being located in a circular recess 2d in the bolt and in contact with a shoulder I d provided on the body 1. The spring surrounds a pin (not shown) which extends into a smaller coaxial blind bore at the base of the recess 2d and engages the shoulder ld, this pin helping to guide the bolt in its movement. When the lever 2 is pivoted about the boss Ic to an inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 4 one side of the slot 3b acts on the pin 2c to retract the bolt against the action of the spring thereby to disengage it from the 6 keeper and permit the window panel to be opened. When the lever 3 is released, the spring-bias returns it to the position shown in FIGURE 3 and during this movement the opposite side of the slot 3b acts on the pin 2c to advance the bolt and return it to its operative position. The forked part 2b of 5 the bolt 2 helps to prevent tilting of the bolt under the forces applied to the pin 2c. by the cam slot 3b.

To facilitate operation of the lever 3, it is formed with a laterally extending finger-piece 3c. The front of the body is closed by the cover 4 and this cover is formed with a laterally projecting finger-piece 4a which is disposed beneath the finger-piece 3c. With the device in the operative position shown in FIGURE 3, the catch device can easily be released by gripping the two finger-pieces between the thumb and forefinger and squeezing them together.

The device is attached to the window panel P by screws or bolts which extend through holes 5a in the plate 5 disposed on one side of the panel into the body I disposed on the other side of the panel.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show the catch device adapted to operate a remote catch 7. For this purpose an extension arm 8 is provided. This arm 8 comprises an elongate housing 9 having a part 9a at one end formed with four bosses 9b to be located in holes Pa in the sliding panel P and to receive screws securing the part 9a to the panel. The arm has a part 9c at the other end which replaces the 7 plate 5 (FIGURES I and 2), it being formed with countersunk holes 9d to receive screws or bolts passing through holes Pb in the panel into the body. The parts 9a,9c of the housing 9 are joined by a narrower part 9e which together with a portion of the part 9c is formed with an elongate recess 9f 5 facing the panel P.

Located in this recess 9f is a link 10 which at one end extends through a bore in the part 9a of the housing in which it is a sliding fit, into a larger diameter bore opening at the end of the part 9a. This end of the link is attached to a remote bolt 11 mounted for sliding movement in the larger bore and arranged to cooperate with a remote keeper (not shown), a coil spring 12 being located between the inner end of the bolt and the shoulder formed between the two bores in the part 9a.

The other end of the link is cranked and extends through an aperture Pe in the panel P, which adjoins one of the holes Pb, and an opening (not shown) in the rear wall of the housing I into the interior of the latter where it engages in a hole in the bolt 2. Thus, movement of the bolt 2 on actuation of the lever 3 is transmitted to the remote bolt I I via the link 10 (in this case the bolt 2 is not provided with a keeper).

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Claims (15)

1. A catch device of the kind specified wherein the pivot of the lever element is located laterally with respect to the bolt element and at a spacing from the latter.

2. A catch device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cam means is located adjacent to one side of the bolt element.

3. A catch device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the cam means comprise a follower in the form of a pin projecting from the bolt element at or adjacent one side edge thereof and a cam in the form of a slot formed in the lever element.

4. A catch device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the slot is a parallel-sided slot which is inclined in the direction of movement of the bolt so that turning of the lever element in one direction causes one side of the cam slot to act on the follower pin thereby to advance the bolt, and turning of the lever element in the other direction causes the other side of the cam slot to act on the pin thereby to 15 retract the bolt.

5. A catch device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the sides of the slot are straight.

6. A catch device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivot of the lever comprises a boss provided on the body at one side of the 20 bolt and extending into a hole in the lever.

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7. A catch device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lever element and the body have projecting parts disposed alongside one another so that they can be gripped between a person's thumb and forefinger to operate the lever element.

8. A catch device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is provided with an extension enabling it to operate a remote catch.

9. A catch device as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the bolt element is adapted to be operatively connected to a link which is in turn connected to a remote bolt so that, in use, movement of the bolt element is transmitted by the 10 link to the remote bolt to engage and disengage it with and from a keeper.

10. A catch device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bolt element is guided for rectilinear movement by two opposed parts of the body, the bolt element having a part which engages the body and helps to prevent tilting of the bolt element.

11- A catch device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bolt element is spring-biased to an operative position for engagement with a keeper, the bolt element being movable against the action of the spring bias to an inoperative position and being releasable to allow it to return automatically to the operative position under the action of the spring bias.

12. A catch device as claimed in Claims 7 and I I wherein the said projecting parts of the lever element and the body are movable towards one another by being squeezed between a person's thumb and forefinger to move the bolt element to its inoperative position, the bolt element returning to its operative position when released from such squeeze.

13. A catch device substantially as herein described with reference to 5 FIGURES I to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A catch device as claimed in Claim 12 fitted with an extension substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A window panel fitted with a catch device as claimed in any one of the 10 preceding claims.