US3243215A

US3243215A - Window latch

Info

Publication number: US3243215A
Application number: US325997A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles L Eads
Original assignee: Adams Rite Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Adams Rite Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1963-11-26
Filing date: 1963-11-26
Publication date: 1966-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-29

Description

C. L. EADS WINDOW LATCH March 29, 1966 Filed Nov. 26, 1963 4 a 49 g 1 /H /W 3 7, i Ml 6 z 2 2 m 2 6 a Kfiar/es 1. [ads INVENTOI.

WHANN 8 McMAN/GAL Af/onreys for fl J/can/ United States Patent 3,243,215 WINDOW LATCH Charles L. Eads, Studio City, Calif., assignor to Adams Rite Manufacturing Company, Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 325,997 7 Claims. (Cl. 292-56) The present invention relates generally to lock and latching mechanisms, and is more particularly concerned with spring type latches such as find use with sliding panels, doors, windows, and the like.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved latching device for sliding structures such as panels, doors, windows and the like, having a unique bolt arrangement which functions both to retain the sliding structure against lifting removal from its sliding support, and also provide a releasable latch for retaining the structure in a closed position. The structure of the invention thus eliminates the necessity of providing a separate anti-lifting device.

A further object is to provide a latching device for releably retaining sliding structures in closed position, and in which a latch actuator is utilized which serves as a releasable stop for limiting opening movement of the structure to a partially opened position, but which may be actuated to a depressed position permitting movement of the structure to a fully opened position.

Another object is to provide latching means of the herein described character for releasably securing a sliding unit in closed position, and which embodies a retractable stop so positioned and operable as to prevent injury to an operators fingers by passing llnits during a unit opening operation.

A still further object is to provide a unique latching mechanism for sliding windows which incorporates in a unitary device actuating means which are selectively operable to provide a plurality of different essential operating functions.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation View of a sliding window structure with latching means of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the latching means in its mounted position, portions being cut away to show the cooperative relationship of the bolt with associated keeper means;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 2, portions being cut away to more clearly show the cooperative relationship of certain parts, and with the latching bolt in latching position;

FIG. 5 is a similar partial fragmentary view with the bolt moved from latching position in FIG. 4 to a nonlatching position; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmetary sectional view, taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes, a latch as indicated at A embodying the features of the invention is shown as being applied to a sliding panel unit, in this case a sliding Window frame 10. The window frame is of conventional construction, being fabricated with extruded rail and stile 3,243,215 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 ice frame members 11 and 12 in which may be mounted a glass panel 13.

The sliding window frame is slidingly supported on a plurality of a antifriction rollers 14 which are arranged to roll upon a T-rail 15 having a head portion 16, as shown in FIG. 3. As shown, the window frame 10 is in overlapped passing relation with respect to an associated window frame which includes a rail member 11' and stile member 12'.

The latch A is mounted on the lower rail 11 of the sliding frame in a position inwardly spaced from the stile member 12 of the frame, as shown in FIG. 1. The latch is illustrated as comprising a cup-like casing 18 which is constructed with end walls 19 and 20 and spaced

side walls

21 and 22 which cooperate to define a side opening 23 at one side of the casing.

At the ends of the casing, mounting lugs 24-24 (FIG. 4) are provided. The casing is mounted within the rail member with its side opening 23 in registration with an opening 25 of similar configuration which is formed in side wall 26 of rail 11. On the outer surface of side wall 11, there is provided an escutcheon or a face plate 27 formed with an elongate opening 28 therein which is adapted to register with the openings 23 and 25. The face plate is assembled in cooperative relation with the casing 18 by providing attaching screws 29-29 arranged to extend through the wall 26 and theadedly engage the mounting lugs 24-24.

The

side walls

21 and 22 are centrally provided with vertical open ended slots 30-30 which have arcuate inner ends 30'. These slots are utilized for pivotally supporting a latch operating lever 31 so that it will be accessible from the open side of the casing. The lever 31 is generally L-shaped, and is constructed with one leg portion 32 of a width and length such that it will substantially cover the left half of the casing opening, as seen in FIG. 2. The other leg portion 33 of the operating lever extends into the casing and is provided with oppositely projecting trunions 34-34 which are formed with an arcuate end 35 in each case for engagement with the adjacent arcuate end wall 30' of the slot 30.

Each of the minions includes an integrally formed tapered extension 36 which has limited movements between the side walls of the slot 30, and thus serves to limit the swinging movement of the latch operations lever between a position projecting through the face plate opening 28 and a depressed position in which the leg 32 lies in a substantially flush relation with respect to the outer surface of the side wall 26 of the rail 11. The operating lever 31 is retained with its trunions in the slots 30 by means of finger extensions 37-37 respectively formed on the opposite sides of the face plate 27 and adapted to extend into the adjacent open ends of slots 30-30. The adjacent ends of the finger extensions 37-37 and the outer ends of the extensions 36-36 are provided with complimentary arcuate confronting edges of engagement. A compression spring 38 is positioned in the casing so as to underlie the leg portion 32 of the opening lever, this spring normally acting to urge the lever in a clockwise direction to the limit of its movement, wherein the leg 32 occupies its extended position. Each trunion is provided with an axially extending multisided extension 39 and has a central threaded bore 40 to facilitate the mounting of a bolt member 41 to accommodate the latch for right or lefthanded installations, as desired.

It will be observed that with the operating lever 31 mounted as described above, the right hand portion of the opening 28 of the face plate affords entrance to this end of the casing for the insertion of an operators finger, whereby the unlatched window may be moved from a M. Wat

closed position towards an opened position and vice versa.

The bolt member 41 is of generally U-shaped construction and includes spaced

leg portions

42 and 43 extending from a bridging portion 44 secured intermediate its ends to one of the trunion extensions 39, as shown in FIG. 2. The

leg portions

42 and 43 carry inwardly extending

projections

45 and 46 respectively which are in spaced relation axially of the bridging portion. Each of the

projections

45 and 46 has a bevelled edge 47 which acts as a camming surface to raise the bolt and permit it to ride over a keeper 48 mounted on one side of the T-rail so as to assume a latching position when the window is moved to fully closed position.

In addition to the operation of the bolt 41 for retaining the window in fully closed position, the

projections

45 and 46 are arranged so that in the extended position of the latch operating lever, the projections extend under the opposite edges of the head 16 of the T-rail so as to normally retain the Window frame against removal by lifting or separating it from its operative position on the rail 15. However, the window frame may be readily released and removed by simply depressing the latching lever so as to rotate the bolt to an inclined position with respect to the rail 15, as shown in FIG. 5. In this position, the

projection

45 and 46 are moved out from under the rail head to a non-latching position, thus permitting lifting movement of the window to separate it from the rail 15, when desired.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the sliding window frame 10 or other anel may be released for movement from its fully closed position simply by depressing the operating lever 31 to release the bolt from the keeper 48. With a finger positioned in the left side of the opening 28, the window may be moved towards open position. Once the opening movement has been initiated, the operating lever may be released and the opening movement continued to a partially opened position as shown in FIG. 1, in which position the projecting operating lever will reach the position shown in dotted lines and engage the stile 12' of the other window unit so as to stop the opening movement of the window 10 at a partially opened position. It will be observed that the operation of the operating lever as a stop member serves as a safety device which will prevent possible injury to the operators finger if movement Were permitted without interruption until the operators finger engaged the adjacent edge of the stile 12'. When it is desired to open the window 10 beyond the partially opened position just described above, this may be readily and easily accomplished without subjecting the operator to probable injury simply by depressing the operating lever so as to permit its passage behind the frame of the associated window. In this case the operator may simply grasp the rail 12 of the window 10 and continue opening movement of this window to fully opened position.

From the foregoing, it is believed that it will be readily appreciated that the latch described herein embodies unique operating features as set forth in the objects and that these objects are obtained by the described structure. By utilizing the unique latch arrangement described, it is possible to obtain a plurality of essential operating functions with a minimum of structural elements at a single operating location.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Latching means for a window frame supported for sliding movements between a closed position and an opened position, the combination comprising:

(a) a cup-like casing adapted for mounting on a movable side member of said frame with its open 4 side substantially flush with a surface of the side member;

(b) a bolt-operating member supported adjacent one end of said casing for movements respectively to a position extending outwardly through the associated open side portion for projecting beyond said casing to form an abutment means, and to a retracted position substantially flush with said open side to permit sliding of the frame, the open side portion adjacent the other end of the casing forming a recess for receiving a finger for manually slidingly moving the frame in opening and closing directions; and

(c) bolt means operable by said member into latching and non-latching positions for engagement with a keeper in the closed position of the window frame.

2. Latching means for a window frame supported for sliding movements between closed and opened positions, the combination comprising:

(a) a casing adapted for flush mounting on a surface adjacent a side of said frame;

(b) a bolt-operating member supported in said casing for movements respectively to projecting bolt latching and retracted non-latching positions;

(c) an elongate element extending adjacent said casing;

(d) fixedly mounted keeper means adjacent said element; and

(e) bolt means operable by said member normally having sliding interlocking engagement with said elongate element during sliding movements of said window frame, and releasably engaging said keeper means for securement of the window frame in its closed position.

3. Latching means for a window frame supported for sliding movements between closed and opened positions, the combination comprising:

(c) an elongate track extending adjacent said casing;

(d) antifriction means adapted to be carried by said frame side for supporting said frame for movements along said track;

(e) fixedly mounted keeper means adjacent said track;

and

(f) bolt means operable by said member for releasably engaging said keeper means in the closed position of said frame and shaped to normally operate to retain said frame against removal separation from said track.

4. Latching means for a window frame supported for sliding movements between closed and opened positions, the combination comprising:

(c) an elongate T-rail extending along said casing;

(d) antifriction means adapted to be carried by said frame side for supporting said frame for movements along said rail;

(e) fixedly mounted keeper means adjacent said rail;

(f) bolt means operable by said member having parts normally extending under the top edges of the rail for retaining said frame against removal separation with respect to said rail, and parts operable in the closed position of said frame for releasably engaging said keeper.

5. Latching means for a sliding window frame, comprising:

(a) a cup-like casing having an open side;

(b) a bolt-operating lever supported between the casing ends by oppositely extending end trunnions for movements respectively to a position projecting outwardly of the plane of said open side, and to a depressed position at least substantially flush with the plane of said opening;

(c) spring means normally urging said lever to its projecting position;

((1) a U-shaped bolt member operable by said lever, said member being supported for rotation about an axis extending through its bridging portion and between the legs thereof; and

(e) an inwardly projecting end portion carried by each of said legs, said end portions being spaced on opposite sides of said axis of rotation.

6. Latching means for a sliding Window frame, comprising:

(a) a cup-like casing having an open side;

() spring means normally urging said lever to its projecting position; and

(d) a U-shaped bolt member having its bridging portion secured to one of said trunnions and with its leg portions lying on opposite sides of the trunnion axis of rotation, said leg portions having end projection adapted in one position to engage under the head of an associated rail member, and in another position permit relative lateral separation of the rail and bolt member.

7. Latching means for a sliding window frame, comprising:

(a) a cup-like casing having an open top extending between spaced side walls, said side walls having vertical slots aligned transversely of the casing intermediate its ends;

(b) a bolt-operating lever supported at one end by oppositely extending trunnions in said slots and with the lever extending over substantially one half of said open top, the other half of the open top being adapted to receive an operators finger therein for applying a lateral force against the casing;

(c) a projection carried by one of said trunnions extending into its associated slot and coacting therewith to provide rotational stop limits of said lever;

(d) spring means normally urging said lever towards one of its stop limits; and

(e) bolt means carried by one of said trunnions operable by said lever to engagement and non-engagement positions with respect to fixed keeper means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 63,157 3/1867 Hedrich 292128 532,042 1/ 1895 Eichbauer 292-128 534,185 2/ 1895 Winchester.

724,081 3/ 1903 Brown 292228 958,864 5/1910 Engert et al. 1,130,150 3/1915 Cossey. 1,667,771 5/ 1928 Chiapparelli 292-228 X 2,282,885 5/ 1942 Raymond. 2,700,801 2/ 1955 Pierson. 3,131,892 5/1964 Salmun 2019 X 3,167,112 1/ 1965 Tucker 20-19 X r JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. R. E. MOORE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

2. LATCHING MEANS FOR A WINDOW FRAME SUPPORTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENTS BETWEEN CLOSED AND OPENED POSITIONS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) A CASING ADAPTED FOR FLUSH MOUNTING ON A SURFACE ADJACENT A SIDE OF SAID FRAME; (B) A BOLT-OPERATING MEMBER SUPPORTED IN SAID CASING FOR MOVEMENTS RESPECTIVELY TO PROJECTING BOLT LATCHING AND RETRACTED NON-LATCHING POSITIONS; (C) AN ELONGATE ELEMENT EXTENDING ADJACENT SAID CASING; (D) FIXEDLY MOUNTED KEEPER MEANS ADJACENT SAID ELEMENT; AND (E) BOLT MEANS OPERABLY BY SAID MEMBER NORMALLY HAVING SLIDING INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ELONGATE ELEMENT DURING SLIDING MOVEMENTS OF SAID WINDOW FRAME, AND RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID KEEPER MEANS FOR SECUREMENT OF THE WINDOW FRAME IN ITS CLOSED POSITION.