GB2083124A - Improvements in window fasteners - Google Patents

Abstract

A casement window fastener comprises a body member 10, a sliding bolt 19 mounted on it and a handle 14 mounted on the body member 10 and operatively connected to the bolt 19 so that pivotal movement of the handle 14 causes the bolt 19 to slide into and out of the operative position. The handle 14 is coupled to the catch 19 by a pin 21 which engages within a slot 20 in the catch 19. During assembly of the fastener the pin 21 may be secured in either of two alterative positions L or R on the handle 14 so that the handle 14 may be assembled as part of a left-handed or right-handed fastener. Two locking mechanisms are shown. One comprises a slider 25 movable in a recess in the body 10 to and from a position 25a which blocks the movement of the bolt from the engaging position and the other comprises a grub screw 26 engageable with a recess in the body member 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in window fasteners The invention relates to windowfasteners, and is more particularly concerned with casement window fasteners of the type comprising a body member, a catch mounted on the body member for sliding movement with respect to the body member between an engaged position in which an operative portion of the catch projects from the body member, and a disengaged position in which the operative portion of the catch is substantially withdrawn into the body member, and a handle pivotally mounted on the body member and operatively coupled to the catch so that pivotal movement of the handle effects said sliding movement of the catch into and out of the engaged position. Such a window fastener will be referred to in this specification as "a window fastener of the type referred to".

In use, such a fastener is normally mounted on the sash frame of a casement window, the sliding catch being engageable with a striker mounted on the window frame when the window is closed. Such fasteners may thus be left- or right-handed, a lefthanded fastener being one which is mounted on a window sash which is pivoted along its vertical lefthand edge. Consequently a left-handed fastener, when the window is closed, is disposed to the left of the adjacent window frame member and the catch projects from the right-hand side of the fastener to engage the striker on the window frame. Similarly a right-handed fastener is arranged for mounting on a window sash which is pivoted along its vertical right-hand edge, and the catch projects from the left-hand side of the fastener.

Hitherto, it has been necessary for the major components of such a fastener to be "handed" so that they are suitable only for assembly into a lefthanded or right-handed fastener. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved design of fastener in which at least one major component is common to both a left-handed and a right-handed fastener.

According to the invention there is provided a window fastener of the type referred to, wherein the handle is such that it may be assembled as part of a left-handed or a right-handed fastener (as hereinbefore defined) as required, according as to whether the handle is coupled to the catch in either of two alternative configurations.

The handle may be coupled to the catch by a coupling element extending between the handle and the catch and selectively engageable, during assembly of the fastener, with either of two alternative portions of the handle. For example, the coupling element may comprise a pin which may be secured in either of two alternative positions on the handle and which engages a guide on the catch when the fastener is assembled. The guide may be in the form - of a slot extending transversely to the direction of sliding movement of the catch. The body member may incorporate a main part and an insert which is inserted within the main part of the body member when the fastener is assembled.

Locking means may be provided which are operable to prevent movement of the catch to the disengaged position. The locking means may comprise a locking element mounted on the body member and displaceable to a position where it is engageable by the catch to restrain said sliding movement thereof from the engaged position. Alternatively or addi tionallythe locking means may comprise a locking element mounted on the handle and displaceable to a position where it engages the body memberto restrain pivoting movement of the handle with respect to the body member.

The invention also provides a window fastener of the type referred to, wherein a locking member is mounted on the body member and is displaceable to a position where it is engageable by the catch to restrain said movement thereof from the engaged position.

Furthermore the invention provides a window fastener of the type referred to, wherein the catch is accommodated within a transverse slot in the body member and the handle is coupled to the catch by a pin which engages a guide in the form of a slot in the catch extending transversely to the direction of sliding movement of the catch.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a left-handed window fastener according to the invention, taken along the line I-I in Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken along the line ll-ll in Figure 3, Figure 3 is a front elevation of the fastener when in the engaged poSition, Figure 4 is a front elevation of the fastener in the disengaged position, and Figure 5 is an underneath view of the handle of the fastener.

The fastener comprises a body member 10 for attachment to the window sash frame, the body member 10 comprising a central portion 11 formed with upper and lower flanges 12 each provided with two countersunk holes 13 (see Figure 3) whereby the body member 10 may be screwed to a window sash frame member. The central portion 11 accommodates an insert 9, and a handle 14 is pivotally mounted on the central portion 11 by means of a pivot pin 15 which extends through the insert 9. Resilient plastics bushes 16 encircle the pivot pin 15 where it passes through the head 17 of the handle 14.

The insert 9 defines with the central portion 11 a transverse slot 18 through which is slideable a catch 19. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the catch is formed with a central open-ended slot 20 which extends across substantially half the width of the catch 19 and receives the end of a pin 21 which is secured within a blind hole 22 in the underside of the head 17 of the handle 14. The pin 21 passes through an arcuate slot 23 in the central portion 11, the slot 23 being concentric with the pivot pin 15. In the left handed fastener shown in the drawings, the pin 21 is secured in the blind hole 22 marked "L" in Figure 5.

When the handle 14 is in line with the body member 10, as shown in Figure 3, the pin 21 is at the right-hand end of the arcuate slot 23 and the catch 19 projects from the right-hand side of the body member 10. The catch 19 is then in the engaged position where, in use, it engages a striker on the fixed window frame. When it is required to disengage the fastener, the handle 14 is swung clockwise to the position shown in Figure 4, and the pin 21 moves around the slot 23 to the left-hand end thereof. This withdraws the operative portion of the catch 19 into the body member 10 so as to disengage the fastener.

Locking means may be provided to prevent movement of the fastener to the disengaged position. Forthis purpose the insert 9 may define with the central portion 11 a T-section guideway 24 on the left-hand side of the member 10. A slider 25 formed, for example, from plastics material is disposed in this guideway 24. When it is required to iock the fastener in the engaged position, the slider 25 is slid downwardly along the guideway 24 to the position indicated in chain lines at 25a in Figure 3 so as to block the end of the slot 18 and thereby prevent withdrawal of the catch 19 into the body member 10.

Alternatively or additionally to the locking arrangement just described, there may be mounted on the handle 14 a locking element which may be moved to engage the body member 10 when the handle is in the engaged position. For example a grub screw 26 may be threaded through the head of the handle 14 and may be tightened by an Allen key (not shown) to engage a recess 27 in the surface of the central portion 11 and thereby prevent turning of the handle 14.

The handle 14 illustrated in Figure 5 may alternatively be used in a right-handed fastener by securing the pin 21 in the blind hole 22 marked "R" in the underside of the head 17 of the handle 14. The handle 14 may then be assembled with a body member which is a mirror image of the body member 10 shown in the drawings, with the insert 9, the catch 19, the pivot pin 15, the bushes 16 and the slider 25 to form a right-handed fastener. In this case, the pin 21 will be at the left-hand end of the arcuate slot 23 when the handle 14 is in line with the body member 10. Consequently the operative portion of the catch 19 will project from the left-hand side of the body member.When the handle 14 is swung anti-clockwise, the pin 21 will move to the right-hand end of the slot 23, withdrawing the operative portion of the catch 19 into the body member 10 so that the fastener is in the disengaged position.

Thus a left-handed or right-handed fastener may be assembled using the same components except that a left-handed body member must be selected for a left-handed fastener and a right-handed body member must be selected for a right-handed fastener. Where the end of the catch 19 requires to be bevelled to engage the striker on the window frame, it may be necessary to bevel the catch 19 on different sides according to whether it is to be used in a left handed or a right-handed fastener. However, the catch 19 may also be bevelled at both ends on one side of the catch so thatthe catch may be used in either a left-handed or a right-handed fastener.

In the arrangement shown, the guideway 24 is defined by a slot in either the left-hand or right-hand side wall of the central portion 11 extending substantally the complete length of that side wall, and by a recess in the corresponding side of the insert 9. The insert 9 is provided with a similar recess on its other side for use in an opposite-handed fastener. The opposite sidewall of the central portion 11 is provided with a slot of length substantially correspond- ing to the width of the catch 19. However, in an alternative arrangement, the body member 10 may be symmetrical about a vertical axis and may be formed with slots extending substantially the complete length of the central portion 11 on both sides of the body member, so that the body member 10 may be used in either a left-handed or right-handed fastener.

The insert 9 may also be integral with the body member 10.

Claims (14)

1. A window fastener of the type referred to, wherein the handle is such that it may be assembled as part of a left-handed or a right-handed fastener (as hereinbefore defined) as required, according as to whether the handle is coupled to the catch in the either of two alternative configurations.

2. A window fastener according to claim 1, wherein the handle is coupled to the catch by a coupling element extending between the handle and the catch and selectively engageable, during assembly of the fastener, with either of two alternative portions of the handle.

3. A window fastener according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element comprises a pin which may be secured in eitheroftwo alternative positions on the handle and which engages a guide on the catch when the fastener is assembled.

4. A window fastener according to claim 3 wherein the guide is in the form of a slot extending transverselytothe direction of sliding movement of the catch.

5. A window fastener according to any preceding claim, wherein the body member incorporates a main part and an insert which is inserted within the main part of the body member when the fastener is assembled.

6. A window fastener according to claim 5, wherein the insert is such that it may be assembled as part of a left-handed or a right-handed fastener (as hereinbefore defined) as required.

7. A window fastener according to any preceding claim, wherein locking means are provided which are operable to prevent movement of the catch to the disengaged position.

8. A window fastener according to claim 7, wherein the locking means comprise a locking element mounted on the body member and displaceable to a position where it is engageable by the catch to restrain said sliding movement thereof from the engaged position.

9. A window fastener according to claim 8, wherein the locking element is a slider accommo dated within a T-section guideway and slidable along the guidewayto a blocking position in which with drawal of the catch into the body member is pre vented.

10. A window fastener according to claim 7, wherein the locking means comprise a locking ele ment mounted on the handle and displaceable to a position where it engages the body member to restrain pivoting movement of the handle with respect to the body member.

11. A window fastener according to claim 10, wherein the locking element is a grub screw threaded through the handle and tightenable by an Allen key to engage a recess in the body member.

12. A window fastener of the type referred to, wherein a locking member is mounted on the body member and is displaceable to a position where it is engageable by the catch to restrain said sliding movement thereof from the engaged position.

13. Awindow fastener of the type referred to, wherein the catch is accommodated within a transverse slot in the body member and the handle is coupled to the catch by a pin which engages a guide in the form of a slot in the catch extending transversely to the direction of sliding movement of the catch.

14. A window fastener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.