GB2436852A

GB2436852A - Espagnolette striker with locking means

Info

Publication number: GB2436852A
Application number: GB0606809A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Michael Gyde; Stuart Timothy Carpenter
Original assignee: Heywood Williams Components Ltd
Current assignee: Heywood Williams Components Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-05
Filing date: 2006-04-05
Publication date: 2007-10-10
Also published as: GB0606809D0

Abstract

The striker 10 is provided for use with a locking device which has at least two projections 14, 15, the projections being movable relative to vary the distance therebetween in a first direction. The striker 10 has at least two receiving paths 12, 13, arranged respectively to receive the two projections, 14, 15 when the striker and locking device move relative to one another into a closed position in a second direction, transverse to the first direction. The striker 10 has an associated locking member 24 so that when the two projections are moved relative to one another in the first direction, the associated locking member 24 is moved into a position in which it prevents at least one of the two projections 14, 15 from moving away from the striker, hence giving a locking position. As shown movement of projection 15 in the first direction engages element 23 to which locking member 24 is secured.

Description

2436852

STRIKERS

The invention relates to strikers. Strikers are components of locks or catches. A striker receives and retains a locking member when a lock or catch is in a 5 closed position.

Various forms of striker are known which receive a locking member as it moves into a closed position to engage the striker, the striker having means to prevent the locking member from subsequently moving away from the striker to 10 give added security.

The provision of locks and catches with increased security is an ongoing problem and the invention seeks to provide a striker which gives greater security than known strikers.

15

The invention provides a striker for use with a locking mechanism which has at least two projections, the projections being movable relative to one another to vary the distance therebetween in a first direction, the striker having at least two receiving paths, arranged respectively to receive the two projections when 20 the striker and the locking device move relative to one another into a closed position in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, the striker having an associated locking member such that when the two projections are moved relative to one another in the first direction, the associated locking member is moved into a position in which it prevents at least one of the two 25 projections for moving away from the striker, hence giving a locking position.

The striker may be arranged for use with a locking device in which the two projections move closer to one another in the first direction, when moving from the closed position to the locking position.

30

The associated locking member may be positioned such that when a first projection of a locking device moves towards a second projection of the locking device, in the closed position, the first projection moves the associated locking

2

member into a position in which it blocks the return path of the second projection away from the striker in the second direction.

The striker may be such that when the first projection moves towards the 5 second projection in the closed position, the first projection moves behind an abutment of the striker thus preventing movement of the first projection away from the striker in the second direction.

Preferably, the associated locking member comprises a spring loaded pin.

10

The invention includes a locking mechanism in combination with a striker as defined above.

The invention also includes a window or door having a locking mechanism 15 according to the invention.

By way of example a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

20 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of striker according to the invention; with the upper part of the striker shown transparent to reveal the inner components of the striker;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are plan views of the striker, showing how the striker 2 5 cooperates with two projections of a locking device;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the locking device, namely an espagnolette, cooperating with two strikers according to the invention;

30 Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the apparatus in a closed position; and

3

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the apparatus in a locked position.

The striker according to this embodiment of the invention comprises a base 5 member 10 die cast in zinc, to which is fitted a stainless steel top place 11. The striker defines two receiving paths 12, 13, for respectively receiving a first projection 14 and second projection 15 of an espagnolette 16 (see figure 5). The projection 14 is fixed in relation to the espagnolette. The projection 15 is movable towards and away from the projection 14 by means of a drive bar 17 10 operated by rotation of the cylinder of the espagnolette.

The espagnolette 16 shown in Figures 5 to 7 is conventional and the invention lies in the striker. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, each end of the espagnolette cooperates with an identical striker. For simplicity, only the operation of one 15 striker will be described, but it should be understood that the other striker operates in an identical manner and, in some cases, more than two strikers may be provided.

The receiving path 12, which receives the fixed projection 14, is a simple slot 20 with a lead-in area 18.

The receiving path 13 is l-shaped having an inner leg 19. The receiving path 13 also has a tapered lead-in portion 20. An additional transverse slot 21 extends from the path 13, its purpose being described later.

25

Slidably positioned below the top plate 11 is an associated locking member 22. The locking member 22 comprises a saddle piece 23 from which projects a locking pin 24. In Figure 1, the locking pin 24 is shown projecting into the path 12 but in its normal condition, the locking pin 24 is retracted underneath the top 30 plate 11, by means of a compression spring 25 which acts between part of the striker base 10 and part of the saddle 22.

4

Figure 2 shows the projections 14 and 15 in two different positions. In use, the strikers may be fastened to a window frame, for example, the espagnolette being fastened to the movable window. As the window is moved towards a closed position, the projections 14 and 15 reach the position with respect to the 5 striker, shown at the foot of Figure 2, in which the pins are adjacent the lead-in portions of the paths 12 and 13. Continued movement of the window moves the projections into the second position shown at the top of Figure 2, in which the projections have reached the limit of their travel into the slots 12 and 13.

10 Once this limiting position has been reached, with the window fully closed, the espagnolette is operated and this causes the projection 15 to move towards the projection 14. The projection comes into engagement with the saddle 23 and moves the saddle against the action of the spring 25. The pin 24 thus begins to move into the path 12, as shown in Figure 3.

15

When movement of the espagnolette is complete, the projection 15 reaches the end of the l-shaped leg 19, and the pin 24 is pushed fully across the path 12, so that it is impossible for the projection 14 to move back out of the slot 12.

20 The projection 15 cannot move away from the striker either, because the projection 15 has moved behind the tongue 25 which defines the l-shaped portion of the path 13.

As both the projections 14 and 15 are trapped within the striker, the

25 arrangement exhibits great resistance against the window being forced open and thus gives added security. The espagnolette can of course be retained in the locked position by means of a conventional key-operated lock (not shown).

The projections 14 and 15 have a mushroom shape, with a head which

30 engages undercut portions of the paths 12 and 13.

5

Figures 5, 6 and 7 correspond to Figures 2, 3 and 4, but show how the espagnolette moves to bring about the relative movement of the projections 14 and 15.

5 The purpose of the slot 21 shown in Figure 1 is to enable the window to be locked in a vent position, when ventilation is required, and high security is not an issue. If the window is closed almost completely and then the espagnolette is operated to move the projections 14 and 15 together, projection 15 moves into the slot 21 so the window is held in the desired vent position.

10

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

15

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually 20 exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. 2 5 Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the 30 features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

• • • •

6

Claims

1. A striker for use with a locking device which has at least two projections, the projections being movable relative to one another to vary the distance

5 therebetween in a first direction, the striker having at least two receiving paths, arranged respectively to receive the two projections when the striker and the locking device move relative to one another into a closed position in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, the striker having an associated locking member such that when the two projections are moved relative to one 10 another in the first direction, the associated locking member is moved into a position in which it prevents at least one of the two projections from moving away from the striker, hence giving a locking position.

2. A striker as claimed in Claim 1, arranged for use with a locking device in 15 which the two projections move closer to one another in the first direction,

when moving from the closed position to the locking position.

3. A striker as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the associated locking member is positioned such that when a first projection of the locking device

20 moves towards a second projection of the locking device, in the closed position, the first projection moves the associated locking member into a position in which it blocks the return path of the second projection away from the striker in the second direction.

25

4. A striker as claimed in Claim 3, in which the striker is such that when the first projection moves towards the second projection in the closed position, the first projection moves behind an abutment of the striker thus preventing movement of the first projection away from the striker in the second direction.

30

5. A striker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the associated locking member comprises a spring loaded pin.

7

6. A striker constructed and arranged as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A locking mechanism in combination with a striker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. A window or device when fitted with a locking mechanism as claimed in Claim 7.