GB2304783A

GB2304783A - Shootbolt locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2304783A
Application number: GB9517558A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Robinson; Paul Collins
Original assignee: W M S GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: W M S GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1995-08-26
Filing date: 1995-08-26
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Also published as: GB9517558D0

Abstract

A movable frame (10) which is adapted to be mounted in a fixed rectangular frame (11), and a locking mechanism mounted on the movable frame including a main part (not shown) which is manually operable and an auxiliary part which comprises: a locking bolt arrangement (12) including a bolt (13) slidably mounted on or in a frame component between a release position, and a locking position in which it projects beyond one end of the frame component; biasing means (15) arranged to bias the locking bolt (13) towards the release position; and, a bolt actuator mechanism (18) coupled with the bolt (13) and operable automatically by the movement energy of the movable frame (10) in its movement to the closed position in order to move the bolt (13) against said biasing means (15) and towards the locking position and thereby to provide additional locking of the movable frame (10) when it reaches the closed position.

Description

SHOOTBOLT LOCKING MECHANISM FOR OPENABLE FRAME MEMBER This invention relates to a shootbolt locking mechanism for an openable frame member, such as an openable door or window, to be mounted in a fixed rectangular frame.

In the window manufacturing industry, UPVC sections are being used to an ever increasing extent, both as original components in new buildings, and also in the replacement market, in which damaged and / or rotten timber framed windows are replaced by UPVC extruded sections with double glazed panels mounted therein.

Espagnolette handles are frequently used to provide a locking facility for openable window frames, and comprise an operating (espagnolette) handle which (after unlocking) can be rotated in order to operate an espagnolette rail or rod which carries locking "cams" or projections and which move between locking and release positions with respect to keeper plates mounted on the adjacent part of the fixed frame.

Espagnolette mechanisms will be well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore need not be described in any more detail herein, beyond mentioning that the extruded sections of the openable window frame on which the espagnolette handle is mounted is usually formed with a mounting groove in which the linearly slidable components of the espagnolette mechanism are mounted, such groove usually being referred to as a "Eurogroove".

In order to give additional security to a window locking system that is available via the espagnolette mechanism, it is known to provide so-called "shootbolts" on the ends of the espagnolette rails or rods which are furthest away from the espagnolette handle (and the usual gearbox which converts rotary movement of the handle into linear movement of the mechanism). The shootbolts are therefore able to be moved to positions in which they project longitudinally beyond the ends of the section in which the espagnolette mechanism is mounted, and can be received by keepers mounted in the facing sections of the fixed frame.

These mechanisms are generally reliable and robust, and are very satisfactory for many purposes. However, the mechanism does rely entirely upon manual operation of the espagnolette handle, both to lock the window when in the closed position, and also to release the mechanism and thereby unlock the window. This can, on occasions, be a considerable task for the elderly, or someone with an arthritic condition in hand or finger, and therefore there is a requirement for an improved lock mechanism which does not necessarily rely upon actuation of a locking / unlocking handle to effect operation (and to impart movement) to all of the components of the mechanism.

The invention therefore seeks to provide a locking mechanism for a movable frame to be mounted for opening and closing movement in a fixed frame, in which at least part of the locking mechanism (an auxiliary part) is automatically operable by the closing movement of the movable frame, and which is therefore independent of any means provided to operate the main part of the locking mechanism.

According to the invention there is provided a movable frame which is adapted to be mounted in a fixed rectangular frame so as to be movable between open and closed positions with respect to said fixed frame, and a locking mechanism mounted on the movable frame, said mechanism including a main part which is manually operable to lock the movable frame to the fixed frame when in the closed position, and is also manually operable to unlock the movable frame and allow it to be moved to an open position; in which the locking mechanism also includes an auxiliary part which comprises:: a locking bolt arrangement including a bolt slidably mounted on or in a frame component of said movable frame for movement in a direction parallel to the general longitudinal axis of the frame component between a release position, and a locking position in which it projects beyond one end of the frame component; biasing means arranged to bias the locking bolt towards the release position; and a bolt actuator mechanism coupled with the bolt and operable automatically by movement of the movable frame to the closed position in order to move the bolt against said biasing means and towards the locking position and thereby to lock the movable frame when it reaches the closed position.

Therefore, the movable frame according to the invention e.g. an openable window frame, is provided with a locking mechanism having a main part which is manually operable to lock and to release the window frame when in the closed position, and said main part of the mechanism may comprise any suitable type of locking mechanism, such as a handle-operated espagnolette mechanism. However, for additional security, when in the closed position, the auxiliary part of the locking mechanism is capable of being operated automatically by the motion energy of the closing movement of the movable frame, and therefore is independent of the manual operation of the main part of the mechanism, and the motion energy of the movable frame operates the bolt actuator mechanism which then causes the locking bolt to slide against the biasing means to the locking position.

However, upon release of the main part of the locking mechanism, by further manual operation of the latter, the biasing means is then capable of exerting a withdrawal force on the locking bolt and which progressively withdraws from locking engagement with the fixed frame and thereby allows the movable frame to move away from the closed position to any desired open position.

The locking bolt arrangement is particularly suitable for mounting in an extruded window section e.g. of UPVC, and which usually are formed with mounting grooves for glazing beads, seals etc, and also to receive sliding espagnolette mechanisms, the groove for the latter usually being referred to as a "Eurogroove".

In a preferred arrangement, the locking bolt is slidably mounted at one end of the Eurogroove, and is slidable longitudinally of the groove so as to project therefrom when in the locked position.

The biasing means may comprise a spring arranged to urge the bolt towards the release position.

The bolt actuator mechanism preferably comprises a toggle linkage having at least one slide component slidably mounted on or in the frame component, and more preferably this also is mounted in the groove of an extruded section which is designed to receive an espagnolette mechanism. The toggle comprises a pair of pivoted links interconnecting the slide component and the bolt, and which are urged by the biasing means to take-up a V-shaped position projecting laterally of the general plane of the frame component, when the movable frame is in an open position.Thus, when the movable frame is in any openable position, the pivoted links project laterally from the closing face of the frame component, and when the frame moves to the closed position, the linkage, or a part connected to it, moves into engagement with a suitable abutment on the fixed frame and which causes the links to be displaced to an "in-line" position with respect to the bolt, and against the action of the biasing means. This then causes the bolt to slide to the locked position, and usually the bolt will then be received by a suitable keeper mounted in the fixed frame.

The bolt actuation mechanism may comprise a pair of toggle linkages associated with the slide component, in which a first toggle linkage is pivotally connected at one end to a fixed part of the frame component and at the other end to one end of the slide component, and a second toggle linkage has qne end which is pivotally connected to an opposite end of the slide component, and the other end of the second linkage is pivotally connected to the sliding bolt.

By such an arrangement (two toggle linkages which are capable of folding movement between in-line positions corresponding to the locking position, and laterally projected positions corresponding to an unlocking position), a long "throw" of the bolt can be achieved, and with only a small lateral projection of the component parts of the two linkages when in the unlocked position.

Each toggle linkage may include a roller which interconnects the two links of each toggle, and which roller is normally located forwardly of the closing face of the frame component and which is moved into engagement with an abutment surface on the fixed frame as the movable frame moves to the closed position, and so as to actuate the sliding movement of the bolt.

The auxiliary part of the locking mechanism may be arranged along any one (or more) of the frame sides of an openable rectangular frame e.g. of a door or openable window.

If the auxiliary part of the locking mechanism is mounted in the top and / or bottom horizontal frame member, the auxiliary part of the mechanism may function to lock each end of the horizontal frame member to an adjacent vertical frame part of the surrounding fixed frame, and this is advantageous particularly in locking at the "hinge" side of the openable frame, by providing additional resistance to any attempt at forced intrusion via the hinge side of the frame.

A preferred embodiment of openable frame member and locking mechanism according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a detailed view of an openable door or window frame with a two part locking mechanism namely a manually operable main part and an automatically operable auxiliary part, and in which Figure 1 only shows in detail the construction of the auxiliary part; and, Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, but showing the locking of the door / window in the closed position.

Referring now to the drawings, this only shows a detail of an auxiliary part of a locking mechanism for a door or window, such auxiliary part being automatically operated by the closing movement of the frame, and therefore whose operation is independent of the operation of the main part of the locking mechanism, which will normally be manually operated.

The main part of the locking mechanism (not shown), which will usually be handle-operated, may typically comprise an espagnolette mechanism, but it should be understood that the construction of the main (manually operated) part of the locking mechanism is not a critical part of this invention, and any suitable locking mechanism may be provided, which can be operated in order to provide a main locking facility when the movable frame has been moved to the closed position.

By way of example only, Figures 1 and 2 show a movable frame 10 which will preferably be made of UPVC, although other material may be used to form the frame of the member 10 e.g.

extruded aluminium, or timber. Frame 10 is adapted to be mounted in a fixed rectangular frame, of which a part only is shown by reference 11, which is a typical extruded profile section of UPVC. Frame 10 is movable between open and closed positions with respect to the fixed frame, and Figure 1 shows the frame 10 during the final stage of a closing movement when the auxiliary locking mechanism is just beginning to be actuated, whereas Figure 2 shows the frame 10, fixed frame component 11, and the auxiliary locking mechanism in the positions which they.take-up when the frame 10 is fully closed, and locked in position.As mentioned above, a main part of the locking mechanism (not shown) will usually be operated, when the frame 10 is fully closed, e.g. by manual operation of a handle or key operation of a cylinder lock, whereas the auxiliary part of the locking mechanism is operated automatically by the motion energy of the closing movement of frame 10.

Therefore, the locking mechanism for the movable frame 10 will be mounted on a frame component of the movable frame 10, and in the case e.g. that frame 10 is a door, the main part of the locking mechanism (which is manually operated) will usually be mounted in the vertical closing face of the door. However, in the case of openable windows, the slidable components of espagnolette mechanisms can be mounted in both the horizontal and / or the vertical frame components of the movable window frame.

As indicated above, the main part of the locking mechanism is manually operated in order to lock the movable frame 10 to the fixed frame when in the closed position, and is also manually operable to release and unlock the movable frame and allow it to be moved to an open position.

The locking mechanism also includes an auxiliary part, which is automatically operated, and independent of the main part, and which will now be described in more detail below.

The auxiliary part is designated generally by reference 12, and comprises a locking bolt 13 which is slidably mounted on or in a frame component of movable frame 10, and in the illustrated arrangement in the drawing, bolt 13 is slidably mounted in a usual "Eurogroove" 14 of a type normally provided in a standard UPVC profile section. Bolt 13 is slidably movable in a direction parallel to the general longitudinal axis of the frame component between a release position, as shown in Figure 1, and a locking position, as shown in Figure 2, in which it projects beyond one end of the frame component and so as to make locking engagement with a suitable keeper mounted in the fixed frame.

The auxiliary part 12 of the locking mechanism also includes biasing means which is arranged to bias the locking bolt 13 towards the release position, and in the illustrated arrangement this comprises a compression spring 15 which reacts between a flange 16 at one end of the groove 14, and a pin 17 extending transversely through locking bolt 13. Evidently, compression spring 15 will normally bias the bolt 13 to the release position, shown in Figure 1, whenever this is allowed by an associated bolt actuator mechanism which is designated generally by reference 18 and which will now be described below.

The bolt actuator mechanism 18 forms a component part of the auxiliary locking mechanism, and is coupled with the locking bolt 13, and is arranged to be operated automatically by the motion energy of the movable frame 10 as it moves to the closed position in order to move the bolt 13 against the biasing force of spring 15 and towards the locking position, and thereby to provide additional locking security for the movable frame 10 when it reaches the closed position, it being assumed that the main part of the locking mechanism (not shown) will also now be operated to provide the main locking function.

The bolt actuator mechanism 18 comprises a slide component 19 which is slidably mounted in the frame component, and most conveniently also within the groove 14, and at least one toggle linkage interconnects the slide component 19 and the bolt 13. However, in the arrangement shown in the drawing, a pair of toggle linkages is provided, namely a first toggle linkage 20 which is pivotally connected at one end 21 to a fixed part of the frame component, and at its other end 22 to the slide component 19, whereas a second toggle linkage 23 is pivotally connected at one end 24 to the slide component 19, and at its other end 25 to the sliding bolt 13.

By such an arrangement, a long "throw" of the bolt 13 can be achieved, despite only a small lateral projection of the toggle linkages 20 and 23 when in the release position, as will be permitted when the frame 10 is in any position, other than the fully closed position.

Each of the toggle linkages 20, 23 includes a roller 26 which interconnects the two links of each toggle, and which is normally located forwardly of the closing face of the frame component, and which is moved into engagement with an abutment surface 27 on the fixed frame as the movable frame 10 moves to the closed position, thereby to actuate the sliding movement of the bolt 13.

It will be noted from the drawing that the auxiliary part 12 of the locking mechanism comprises a unit, having a mounting housing 28, which is readily mounted in the groove 14, near to one end thereof, so that the bolt 13 can function as a "shootbolt".

The provision of slide component 19 and two toggle linkages 20 and 23 is a preferred arrangement, but evidently a more simplified construction could be provided, and which is intended to be within the scope of the invention. Thus, a single toggle linkage could be provided e.g. toggle linkage 23, but in such a case component 19 would be fixed, rather than a slidable component, and the "slide" which permits inward folding movement of the toggle 23 (during closing movement) would be provided by a slide component connected to, or incorporated with the sliding bolt 13.

A suitably designed keeper plate (not shown in detail) will be mounted on the frame component 11, to cooperate with the locking movement of the bolt 13 during closing movement, and also to facilitate withdrawal of the sliding bolt 13 under the action of the spring 15 once the main locking mechanism has been released, and thereby freeing the frame 10 to allow it to move away from the closed position. The design tolerances of the inters it between the locking bolt 13 and the keeper therefore must be such as to permit an initial small amount of opening movement of the frame 10 so that the rollers 26 and the associated links can start to move laterally outwardly away from the "in-line" locking position shown in Figure 2, and thereby effect withdrawal of the locking bolt 13 from engagement with the keeper. By way of example, the keeper may have an inclined guide entrance surface (inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of bolt 13), and which permits progressive insertion of the bolt 13 into the keeper during the final stages of the closing movement of the frame 10. Such an arrangement may permit easy automatic release of the bolt 13 from the keeper, under the action of the biasing spring 15, and which will then automatically be accompanied by a limited amount of automatic opening movement of the frame 10.

Claims

1. A movable frame (10) which is adapted to be mounted in a fixed rectangular frame (11) so as to be movable between open and closed positions with respect to said fixed frame, and a locking mechanism mounted on the movable frame, said locking mechanism including a main part (not shown) which is manually operable to lock the movable frame (10) to the fixed frame (11) when the movable frame (10) is in the closed position, and also being manually operable to unlock the movable frame (10) and allow it to be moved to an open position; in which the locking mechanism also includes an auxiliary part which comprises:: a locking bolt arrangement (12) including a bolt (13) slidably mounted on or in a frame component of the movable frame (10) for movement in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame component between a release position, and a locking position in which it projects beyond one end of the frame component; biasing means (15) arranged to bias the locking bolt (13) towards the release position; and, a bolt actuator mechanism (18) coupled with the bolt (13) and operable automatically by the movement energy of the movable frame (10) in its movement to the closed position in order to move the bolt (13) against said biasing means (15) and towards the locking position and thereby to provide additional locking of the movable frame (10) when it reaches the closed position.

2. A movable frame according to claim 1, in which the main part of the locking mechanism comprises a handle-operated espagnolette mechanism.

3. a movable frame according to claim 1 or 2 and in the form of an openable window or door frame, in which the frame (10) is assembled from extruded sections.

4. A movable frame according to claim 3, in which at least one extruded section is formed with a groove (14) to receive the longitudinally slidable components of an espagnolette mechanism (not shown), and in which said auxiliary part (12) of the locking mechanism comprises a unit which is mounted at one end of said groove (14), so that said bolt (13) can be slidable longitudinally of the groove (14) to project from one end of the frame component when in the locked position.

5. A movable frame according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the biasing means comprises a spring (15) arranged to urge the bolt (13) towards the release position.

6. A movable frame according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the bolt actuation mechanism (18) comprises a toggle linkage (23) having a slide component (19) which is slidably mounted on or in said frame component.

7. A movable frame according to claim 6, when appendant to claim 4, in which said slide component (19) is slidably mounted in said groove (14).

8. A movable frame according to claim 6 or 7, in which a pair of pivoted links interconnect the slide component (19) and the bolt (13), and which are urged by the biasing means (15) to take-up a V-shaped position when the movable frame (10) is in an open position, said links being moved to take-up an in-line position with respect to the bolt (13) when the movable frame (10) reaches the closed position.

9. A movable frame according to any one of claims 6 to 8, including a pair of toggle linkages (20, 23), in which a first toggle linkage (20) is pivotally connected at one end (21) to a fixed part (28) of the frame component and at its other end (22) to a first end of the slide component (19), and a second toggle linkage (23) is pivotally connected at one end (24) to the slide component (19) and at its other end (25) to the sliding bolt (13).

10. A movable frame according to any one of claims 6 to 9, in which the or each toggle linkage (20, 23) includes a roller (26) which interconnects the respective links of the toggle, and which roller (26) is usually located forwardly of the closing face of the frame component and which is movable into engagement with an abutment surface (26) on the fixed frame as the movable frame (10) moves to the closed position, and so as to actuate the sliding movement of the bolt (13).