WO1999060238A1

WO1999060238A1 - A partially concealed secondary locking device for use in sliding doors and/or windows

Info

Publication number: WO1999060238A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000371
Authority: WO
Inventors: Barry Michael Jones
Original assignee: Barry Michael Jones
Priority date: 1998-05-20
Filing date: 1999-05-18
Publication date: 1999-11-25
Also published as: AUPP361398A0

Abstract

A partially concealed secondary locking device for use with sliding doors and/or windows is disclosed. The device is a housing (12) with a cavity (21) wherein a rotatable catch (14) with a predetermined curvature (27) on the underneath of one end is pivotally secured with a pin (22) through a slot (28) in the catch (14) and has a restraining mechanism created by a recessed lip (44) at the releasable end of, and below, the upper surface of the catch (14) and a corresponding internal lip (46) on the underneath surface of the housing (12) which allows the catch (14) to be both secured and released from the housing (12) such as to block movement of an active panel, wing or sash through the continued movement of the active panel, wing or sash.

Description

A PARTIALLY CONCEALED SECONDARY LOCKING DEVICE

FOR USE IN SLIDING DOORS AND/OR WINDOWS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to locks, catches, latches and handles and more particularly but

not exclusively when fitted to such items having two or more panels, wings or sashes; some of

which may be permanently fixed within a frame, or two or more which may be free to pass over each other within the constraints of predetermined tracks or fixings which allows free lateral

movement of the said panels, wings or sashes whilst maintaining the relative bilateral distance between the respective panels, wings or sashes constant.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The terminology generally employed in the industry responsible for the manufacture of sliding windows and sliding doors identifies panels, wings or sashes as either "passive" or "active"

elements to denote which panels, wings or sashes are of a fixed or non moving nature and those

which are designed to be able to move from a closed to open state. There exists many variations

and combinations of passive and active panels depending on the type and size of an individual assembly.

Typically, in large vertical sliding or double hung windows wherein both panels, wings or

sashes are said to be "active" no means is normally afforded the user to assist in moving the top sash with respect to the lower sash, owing to the close, bilateral, proximity of the lower

sash to the top sash, therefore the attachment of easily accessible elements to the faces of the stiles of the top or "active" sash is precluded as they must remain free of obstruction in order to

pass over the stiles of the lower sash and hence each other thereby compelling, in most cases, the user to resort to direct pressure on the face of the stile or glass therein to overcome

the inertia attendant with this type of assembly.

Inherent in the design of this type of window or door are security' limitations associated with

standard locking mechanisms which are typically capable of being forced to allow movement

of the active panels such that entry may be gained once the primary securing device is

immobilised. Secondary locking devices are often generic in as much as one particular type of

lock may be have to be adapted for a variety of particular installations and as such are often

unsuited and conspicuous. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

I is the object of the present invention to provide, where and when required, adequate means to assist in the passage of the said panels, wings or sashes and to provide within the design a partially concealed secondary locking device with a retaining mechanism which until released

by the user will not obstruct the passage of one sash over the other but can, when required, be

activated to provide a means of gaining a mechanical advantage to assist in the movement of

the said panels, wings or sashes and which has within the design, features which will allow the movement of the said panels, wings or sashes to predetermined blocking positions in such

fashion as to allow the passage of air, through partial opening, whilst restricting intrusion by the

passage of the human form without limiting the desired function or performance of the

associated assembly and further by providing easy and temporary disablement of the limiting

means when no longer required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a device for blocking movement of an

opposing face of a first member across an opposing face of a second member, the device being

adapted to be received in the opposing face of the first member and or the second member ___> where more than two members are employed and compπsing a housing wherein is retained a catch in the form of a lever by means of a pivot passing through diametrically opposing holes in the housing and an elongate slot in the catch The housing and the catch may be made of any resilient material, preferably metal or moulded plastic with high impact resistance The catch has a particular curvature formed on the underneath surface of the end which is releasable from the housing and an undercut lip on the upper portion of the same end which engages with a corresponding lip on the underside of the face of the housing and is retained by means of an urging mechanism but which can be readily overcome by compression of the urging mechanism thereby disengaging the interference between the two lips through the application of finger pressure and sliding movement on a corrugated portion of the upper exteπor surface of the catch which allows a slot in the catch to slide over the pivot which when released, presents itself in a position wherein the second element, if moved toward an opemng position, engages with the curvature of the catch which is pivotably secured within the housing and moves in a predetermined arc to a fixed or blocking position determined by a bπdge being an integral part of the housing which is located relative to the pivot such that contact between one end of the catch and bπdge determines the fixed position thereby preventing further movement of the second element with respect to the first element The catch may be selectively locked and unlocked from this position or in some instances, if required, have no lock facility whatsoever but rather act as a predetermined stop to prevent further movement of the second element with respect to the first element hereinafter referred to as panels, wings or sashes Further, the said catch may be used to provide direct mechamcal advantage to the user in moving the panels, wings or sashes and can be selectively retained within the housing secured m the panels, wings or sashes to allow free passage of the panels, wings or sashes with respect to each other as and when required BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention is now descπbed, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of the device according to the present invention with the catch of the device in a retracted position

Figure 2 is a perspective drawing of the device according to Figure 1 with the catch in

an intermediate position between the retracted position of Figure 1 and the blocking position,

Figure 3 is a perspective drawing of the device of Figures 1 and 2 with the catch m the blocking position,

Figure 4 is a perspective drawing of the components of the device of Figures 1 - 3

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the device of Figures 1 - 3 with an optional locking mechanism

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the device of Figure 5 through line A-A with the catch in both the retracted and blocking positions

Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of the catch of the device

Figure 8 shows a schematic cross sectional view of the device of Figure 5 through

line B-B with the catch removed

Figure 9 shows a schematic side view of the device of Figures 1 - 6 as assembled in a

vertical sliding or double hung window comprising two movable elements within a fixed frame

with the catch of the device in a blocking position

Figure 10 shows a schematic plan view of the device as assembled according to Figure 9

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referπng to Figures 1 - 8 the device 10 broadly composes a housing 12, catch 14, urging mechanism in the form of a spπng clip 16, stop in the form of a bπdge 18 of the housing 12 and optional lock mechanism 20 depicted in Figures 5 and 6. The housing is elongate and has a cavity 21 for receiving the catch 14. Referring to Figures 1 - 4, the catch 14 is also

elongate, having a first end 23 narrower than a second end 25, the first end 23 expanding to

meet the second end 25 approximately midway along the length of the catch 14. The housing

21 is accordingly shaped to receive the catch 14 in that the side walls 28 defining the cavity 21

are separated by a smaller amount for a part of the cavity 21 which corresponds to the first end

23 then a part of the cavity 21 which coπesponds to the second end 25. An end 27 of the second

end 25 curves downwardly, away from the upper surface 52 of the catch 14 toward the first end

23.

The catch 14 is rotatably attached within the cavity 21 of the housing 12 via a pin 22,

above and to the rear of the bridge 18 which joins the side walls 28 of the cavity 21,

substantially perpendicularly to the side walls 28 of the cavity 21. The pin 22 passes through slot 28 in the catch and mounts in holes 26 diametrically opposed to each other in the side walls

28 of the housing 12.

The bridge 18 is located within the cavity 21 , toward both an open base of the cavity 21

and an end of the part of the cavity 21 which corresponds to the first end 23 of the catch 14, proximal an end of the part of the cavity 21 which corresponds to the second end 25 of the

catch 14.

The spring 16 has a shape which resembles a slightly opened "U" with first and second

side walls 30 and 33 respectively which are directed away from each other. The second side

wall 33 is greater than twice the length of the first side wall 30 and has a slight angle formed at

a short distance prior to the extremity of the length, the length of the innermost surface of the

first side wall 30 being approximately equal to the distance between the lower edges of the

SUBSTΓTUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) bridge 18 which are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing 12. The

first side wall 30 of the spring 16 has a hole 34 which is substantially centrally positioned.

Referring to Figure 4 and 6 the spring 16 is attached to the bridge 18 by appropriately positioning the first side wall 30 of the spring 16 over the lower surface 42 of the bridge 18

such that a screw 32 can be threaded from underneath the bridge 18 through the hole 34 of the

spring 16 and into a hole 36 in the lower surface 42 of the bridge 18. Referring to Figures 2 to 6

the side wall 33 of the spring 16 extends away from the first side wall 30 which is firmly

located against a lower surface 42 of the bridge 18. As such, the spring is predisposed to urge the catch 14 toward the positions of Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figures 2, 6 and 7 a retaining mechanism of the device 10 comprises a recessed lip 44 of catch 14 and a coπesponding internal lip 46 of housing 12 Engagement of

the retaining mechanism is achieved by rotating the second end 25 of catch 14 toward the cavity 21 in the housing 12 against an opposing force which is provided by the spring 16. Once

the upper surface 52 of the catch 14 is flush with the upper surface 54 of the housing 12, the

catch is moved by a force in the direction indicated by arrow 56 via corrugations 58 on the upper surface of the second end 25. Such movement results on the catch 14 moving relative to

the pin 22 by allowing the slot 24 passage over the pin 22 in a direction which is substantially

aligned with the longitudinal axis of the catch 14, a distance less than the length of the slot 24

to enable the lip 44 of the catch 14 to be inserted into the internal lip 46 of the housing 12. The

opposing force of the spring 16 provides a leverage to the catch 14 such as to provide a clamping force between the lip 44 of the catch 14 and the internal lip 46 of the housing 12 such

that the catch 14 is not inclined to move from such a position unless a force is applied to the

corrugated surface 58 of the catch 14 in a direction which is substantially opposite to the

direction indicated by aπow 56. Referring to Figures 1 - 6 the aforementioned curvature of the end 27 enables the second end 25 of the catch 14 to rotate upwardly, as directed by the spring 16, away from an end 59 of

the housing 12 which is proximal the curvature 27 without the second end 25 of the catch

interfering with the end 59 of the housing 12.

5 Where required, a recess may be provided in the housing 12 to accommodate an

optional lock 20. An abutting portion of the optional lock 20 comprises a protrusion 60 which is

attached to a baπel 62 and thereby rotatable via the lock 20 from a locked position of Figure 6

wherein the protrusion 60 is moved to abut an upper surface 64 of a first end 23 of the catch 14

to an unlocked position where the protrusion 60 is substantially clear with the position of the

10 protrusion 60 according to Figure 6. In the locked position the protrusion 60 prevents rotation

of the catch 14 about the pivot 22; whereas, in the unlocked position the protrusion 60 does not restrict movement of the catch 14 from the blocking position of Figure 6 to the retracted

position of Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10 two movable members in the form of the upper and lower

I r sashes of a window 66 and 68 respectively are directed by supporting and guiding members in

the form of the jambs of a frame 70 to slide substantially vertically past each other. The housing 12 of a device 10 is inserted into an elongate hole prepared to accept the coπesponding

elongate shape of the housing 12 in the front face 74 of each vertical upper member, one in each side, of the sash 66 to be substantially concealed within the sash 66 with the exception of

a continuous flanged head 54 of the housing 12 and may be secured relative thereto via

mechanical fasteners 87 through walls of the sash 66 into the housing 12 at locations 88 prior to

assembly of the sashes 66 and 68 into frame 70, such that disassembly or removal of the device

from the sash 66 is not possible without first disassembling sash 66 from the frame 70. As assembled, and with the catch 14 in the closed position the continuous flanged head 54 of each housing 12 and, more particularly, the upper surface 52 of the retained catch 14 is substantially clear of the surface of the internal face 75 of the lower sash 68 to ensure no interference between the housing 12 and the lower sash 68 Once the catch 14 is released from the housing

12 movement of the sashes 66 and 68 toward each other results in the second end 25 of catch

5 14 of both devices 10 through the curvature 27 contacting an upper surface 71 of the lower sash

68 and rotating about pivot 22 (see Figure 6) until a lower surface 72 of a first end 23 of each catch 14 contacts surface 74 of spπng 16 which is supported by bπdge 18 wherein further rotational movement of each catch 14 about pivot 22 is prevented thereby preventing further movement of the sashes 66 and 68 toward each other 0 The device 10 is positioned within the sash 66 such that upon either movement of the sash 66 toward a lower end 78 of the frame 70, or movement of the sash 68 toward an upper end 76 of the frame 70, with the upper end 71 of the sash 68 contacting the catch 14, as shown in Figure 7, the respective combined openings 80 between an upper end of the sash 66 and the upper end 76 of frame 70 and opening 82 between the lower end of the sash 68 and the lower end 78 of

I c the frame 70 are small enough to restrict entry by a person

Referπng to Figures 2, 9 and 10 the spacing 84 between adjacent opposed surfaces of the sashes 66 and 68 is such that when the lip 44 of the catch 14 is moved from the internal lip 46 of the housing 12 the catch 14 is urged, via the spπng 16, into the intermediate position of Figure 2 wherein the second end 25 and more particularly the curvature 27 of the catch 14 protrudes sufficiently from the housing 12 to contact an upper end 71 of the sash 68 and upon movement of the upper and lower sashes 66 and 68 toward each other catch 14 rotates about pin 22 to the blocking position of Figures 9 and 10 When the catch 14 is in the intermediate position of Figure 2 it also protrudes sufficiently to enable it to be grasped by a person's hand

STJBSTTTUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) and rotated to the blocking position of Figures 3 & 6 for use as a handle in gaining a mechanical advantage in moving the sash 66.

The device 10 may similarly be located in the face 86 of sash 68 enabling the catch 14

to be released from the housing 12 when required from the front surface 86 of sash 68 to enable

it may be grasped by a person's hand and rotated to the blocking position thereby allowing the catch 14 to be used as a handle to facilitate movement of sash 68.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS

1 A partially concealed secondary locking device comprising a housing with a flanged

head and a cavity wherein a catch with a predetermined curvature on the underneath of one end is pivotally secured within the housing and has a restraining mechanism

5 created b> a recessed lip at the releasable end of, and below, the upper surface of the catch and a corresponding internal lip on the underneath surface of the housing such

that the two lips may be engaged by movement of the catch relative to the housing

and be retained there by a force provided by an urging mechanism acting on the catch

to retain the catch within the housing and which when engaged will allow the lateral

1 movement of sliding panels, wings or sashes, one or more of which may be

permanently fixed within a frame and one or more of which may be free to pass over

each other within the constraints of predetermined tracks or fixings which allows free lateral movement of the sliding panels, wings or sashes whilst maintaining the relative

bilateral distance between the panels constant

,

2 The partially concealed secondary locking device of Claim 1 mounted in a first panel, wing or sash wherein the pivotally mounted catch has an urging mechanism and

an end which curves downwardly, away from the upper surface of the catch such that

when the catch is released from the retaining mechanism the catch presents an exposed portion of itself relative to the leading edge of a moving or active panel

whereby continued movement of the active panel rotates the catch to a predetermined

20 blocking position thereby prohibiting further movement of the active panel

3 The partially concealed secondary locking device of Claims 1 an 2 wherein is formed between the walls within the cavity of the housing an integral b╧Çdge positioned

relative to the pivot such as to prohibit any further movement of the secured catch of Claim 2 beyond the full blocking position whilst providing a securing point for the

spring which is used as an urging mechanism.

4. The partially concealed secondary locking device of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the catch

has an elongate slotted opening of predetermined size through the entire width of the

5 catch and through which a pivot is inserted to align with holes in the walls of the

housing which are diametrically aligned one with the other and provide support for the

pivot allowing fore and aft movement of the catch, by the nature and size of the

predetermined slot in the catch, relative to the housing and pivotal movement of the catch, when released, will, by means of an urging mechanism in the form of a spring, 10 move the catch in a predetermined arc away from the normal position of the catch

when the retaining mechanism is in operation.

5. The partially concealed secondary locking device of Claim 4 wherein is a

pivotally mounted catch which is provided with corrugations on the exposed face to assist the user in the application of the required force to the catch within the housing

╬╣ r such as to overcome the force of the urging mechanism to achieve the released and

secured positions of the catch with single finger operation.

6. The partially concealed secondary locking device of Claims 1 to 5 wherein a catch, if

released from a restraining mechanism within the housing presents itself such as to

provide adequate means for a user to grasp the catch to gain a mechanical advantage

-_n from the catch in overcoming the inertia of the panels, wings or sashes if required.

7 The partially concealed secondary locking device of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the

housing has a pre formed recess to accommodate a cylindrical lock body with a

rotatable protrusion operable to secure the catch in the blocking position. The partialK concealed secondary locking device of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the

housing has a pre formed recess to accommodate a cylindrical lock body with a

rotatable protrusion operable to release the catch of Claim 3 from the blocking position

The partially concealed secondary locking device of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the

device is positioned within a first panel, wing or sash such that the individual opening

in a single active panel and or the combined openings m instances where two or more

active panels are present and have been moved to the blocking position and secured by means of the lock, is insufficient to allow the passage of the human form between the

fixed frame of the assembly and one or more of the active panels The partially concealed secondary locking device of Claim 9 wherein the

device is positioned within a first panel, wing or sash without the lock of Claims 7 and 8 such that the individual opening in a single active panel and or the combined

openings in instances where two or more active panels are present and have been moved to the blocking position, is still insufficient to allow the passage of the human

form between the fixed frame of the assembly and one or more of the active panels The partially concealed secondary locking device of any of the Claims 1 to 10 which

may be mounted in any active panel, wing or sash either singularly or collectively to solely gain mechanical advantage in overcoming the inertia associated with the weight

of the active panel, wing or sash The partially concealed secondary locking device substantially as herein described

with reference to the accompanying drawings