Restrictor device for the opening movement of a window, door or the like

Abstract: A restrictor device (1) for an opening wing (2) of a window, door or the like comprises a link (20) pivotally connected to a base plate (17) for securing to the wing (2) and an arm (9) pivotally connected to a mounting plate (6) for securing to a surrounding fixed frame (30). The arm (9) and link (20) are coupled to restrict opening of the wing (2) and can be uncoupled when the wing (2) is closed to release the restrictor device (1) allowing unrestricted opening of the wing (2). The mounting plate (6) and base plate (17) are located relative to each other on closing the wing (2) by co-operating formations (22,23;24,25) so as to align the uncoupled arm (9) and link (20) for automatic re-coupling to re-set the restrictor device (1).

Description: This invention relates to restrictor devices for windows, doors and the like. Windows and doors are commonly fitted with restrictor devices for reasons of safety and security. Such devices provide limited opening sufficient for ventilation and prevent unauthorised entry or accidental exit through the window. The restrictor devices may provide a permanent connection but are preferably releasable to allow opening beyond the limit position when required with provision for automatic re-engagement to avoid manual resetting. FR-A-2346536 (& GB 1561248) and GB-A-2068451 disclose restrictor devices for doors having a pivotal coupling arm co-operable with a retainer member to limit opening of the door. In FR-A-2346536, the coupling arm has a formation at one end arranged to engage slidably a slot in the retainer member to allow partial opening of the door. The slot is enlarged at one end and the coupling arm is pivotal against the biasing of a spring when the door is closed to align the formation with the enlarged end of the slot for releasing the retainer member to allow complete opening of the door. In GB-A-2068451, the retainer member has pegs arranged to engage slidably longitudinal grooves in the coupling arm to allow partial opening of the door. The grooves have cut-outs at one end and the coupling arm is slidable against the biasing of a spring when the door is closed to align the pegs with the cut-outs for releasing the retainer member to allow complete opening of the door. Malfunction of the restrictor device can occur if the components are misaligned when the device is fitted. In particular, the device may be difficult to release andlor may not re-engage automatically. The present invention is intended to provide a solution to this problem. According to the present invention there is provided a releasable restrictor device for an opening wing of a window, door or the like comprising first coupling means for mounting on one of the wing and a surrounding frame for pivotal and sliding movement relative thereto, second coupling means for mounting on the other of the wing and frame, the first coupling means being engageable with the second coupling means so that the wing can be opened to a limit position and being slidable for releasing the second coupling means when the wing is closed so that the wing can be opened beyond the limit position characterised in that first and second mounting means for the first and second coupling means respectively are provided with means for locating the mounting means relative to each other in the direction of sliding movement of the first coupling means when the wing is closed. By locating the mounting means in the direction of sliding movement of the first coupling means the restrictor device can be accurately positioned on the wing and surrounding frame thereby facilitating installation and ensuring safe, reliable operation of the restrictor device. The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of part of a window shown secured in an open limit position by a restrictor device according to the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side view, partly in section, showing the restrictor device when the window is in the open limit position; FIGURE 3 is a side view, partly in section, showing the restrictor device when the window is closed; FIGURE 4 is a side view, partly in section, similar to Figure 3 and showing the restrictor device in a release position; and FIGURE 5 is a side view, partly in section, showing the restrictor device at the point of re-engaging. Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, the restrictor device 1 is shown fitted to a window to control opening movement of the casement 2 relative to the surrounding fixed frame 3. The casement 2 may be mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement relative to the fixed frame 3 and, when engaged, the restrictor device 1 prevents movement of the casement 2 beyond the limit position shown. With reference now to all the Figures, the restrictor device 1 essentially comprises latch means 4 and retainer means 5 for mounting on the casement 2 and frame 3. In this embodiment, the latch means 4 is shown secured to the frame 3 and the retainer means 5 secured to the casement 2 but it will be understood that this is not essential and the components may be reversed. The latch means 4 includes an elongate mounting plate 6 of channel-section closed at each end and provided with transverse through holes 7,8 by means of which it is secured to the frame 3 by screws (not shown) or other suitable fasteners. An elongate arm 9 is pivotally connected at one end to a pivot block 10 and the other end is shaped to form a hook 11 having an angled guide face 12 at the free end. The pivot block 10 projects through a slot 13 formed in the base wall 14 of the mounting plate 6 and is biased to one end of the slot 13 by a spring 15. An actuating button 16 is mounted on the projecting portion of the pivot block 10 to overlie the slot 13 and conceal the spring 15. The retainer means 5 includes a base plate 17 having a pair of through holes 18,19 by means of which it is secured to the casement 2 by screws (not shown) or other suitable fasteners. A link 20 is pivotally connected to the base plate 17 at one end and has a transverse coupling pin 21 at the other end for engagement with the hook 11 to pivotally connect the latch means 4 and retainer means 5. The latch means 4 and retainer means 5 are mounted on the frame 3 and casement 2 so that, with the window closed, the arm 9 lies adjacent to the base wall 14 of the mounting plate 6 and the link 20 is received within the channel-section with the coupling pin 21 located behind the free end of the hook 11 as shown in Figure 3. On opening the window, the coupling pin 21 is trapped and retained by the hook 11 to restrict opening of the casement 2 to the limit position shown in Figures 1 and 2. To open the casement 2 beyond the limit position, the actuating button 16 is manually slidable with the window closed to displace the pivot block 10 and arm 9 against the biasing of the spring 15 to a release position in which the coupling pin 21 is spaced above the free end of the hook 11 as shown in Figure 4 so that, on opening the window, the link 20 is disengaged allowing unrestricted opening movement of the casement 2. On releasing the actuating button 16, the pivot block 10 and arm 9 are returned to their original positions under the biasing of the spring 15 such that, on closing the window, the coupling pin 21 is aligned with and engages the angled guide face 12 at the free end of the hook 11 as shown in Figure 5. This engagement causes the arm 9 to be displaced against the biasing of the spring 15 so that the coupling pin 21 rides over the free end of the hook 11 whereupon the arm 9 is displaced by the spring force to locate the coupling pin 21 behind the free end of the hook 11 when the window is fully closed as shown in Figure 3. In this way, the restrictor device 1 is automatically re-engaged and movement of the casement 2 is restricted to the open limit position when the window is next opened. It will be understood from the foregoing description that accurate alignment of the components is important for correct operation of the restrictor device 1, in particular to obtain automatic re-engagement of the arm 9 and coupling pin 21. For such alignment, the mounting plate 6 is provided with two pairs of aligned slots 22,23 in the opposed side walls and the base plate 17 is provided with two pairs of aligned lugs 24,25 on opposed sides that are received in the slots 22,23 when the window is closed as shown in Figure 3. To assist entry of the lugs 24,25 the slots 22,23 are provided with inclined ramp faces 26,27. In the closed position of the window, the base plate 17 is located between the side walls of the mounting plate 6 with the channel-section being closed by the shut face of the casement 2 preventing access to the interior of the mounting plate 6 in which the link 20 and arm 9 are housed. With this arrangement, only the mounting plate 6 is visible when the window is closed so that installation of the restrictor device 1 does not detract from the aesthetics of the window. One pair of lugs 24 is longer than the other pair of lugs 25 and the corresponding slots 22,23 are sized to match. The longer lugs 24 provide stop faces 28 engaged by the link 20 in the open limit position of the casement as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and are engageable with the slots 22 as the window is closed to align the base 17 with the mounting plate 6 as shown in Figure 5. The shorter lugs 25 provide stop faces 29 engaged by the link 20 when released to position the link 20 for re-engagement with the hook 11 as shown in Figure 5, and are engageable with the slots 23 when the window is closed. It will be appreciated that the invented restrictor device is of simple construction with co-operating formations to ensure accurate location of the components to facilitate installation and reliable operation. The retainer means may be of any suitable construction for engagement with the hook of the latch means. For example, the pivotal link may be replaced by a fixed link. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to windows and that the restrictor device may be used to limit opening movement of a door or other closure mounted for hinged, pivotal or sliding movement relative to a surrounding frame.

Claims: A releasable restrictor device (1) for an opening wing (2) of a window, door or the like comprises first coupling means (9) for mounting on one of the wing (2) and a surrounding frame (3) for pivotal and sliding movement relative thereto, second coupling means (20) for mounting on the other of the wing (2) and frame (3), the first coupling means (9) being engageable with the second coupling means (20) so that the wing (2) can be opened to a limit position and being slidable for releasing the second coupling means (20) when the wing (2) is closed so that the wing (2) can be opened beyond the limit position characterised in that first and second mounting means (6;17) for the first and second coupling means (9;20) respectively are provided with means (22,23;24,25) for locating the mounting means (6;17) relative to each other in the direction of sliding movement of the first coupling means (9) when the wing (2) is closed. A restrictor device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the first coupling means (9) is slidable, for example by manually operable release means (16), against the action of biasing means (15), such as a spring (15), to release the second coupling means (20) when the wing (2) is closed. A restrictor device according to Claim 2 characterised in that the first and second coupling means (9;20) are co-operable when disengaged to move the first coupling means (9) against the action of the biasing means (15) to cause the coupling means (9;20) to re-engage automatically to re-set the device (1) on closing the wing 2. A restrictor device according to Claim 3 characterised in that the first coupling means (9) comprises an arm (9) pivotally and slidably connected at one end to the first mounting means (6), and the second coupling means (20) is engageable with the other end of the arm (9) to connect the coupling means (9;20). A restrictor device according to Claim 4 characterised in that the second coupling means (20) comprises a coupling pin (21) engageable with a hook (11) at the other end of the arm (9). A restrictor device according to Claim 5 characterised in that the hook (11) has a guide face (12) co-operable with the coupling pin (21) to move the arm (9) against the action of the biasing means (15) for automatic re-engagement of the coupling means (9;20). A restrictor device according to any one Claims 3 to 6 characterised in that the second coupling means (20) is connected to the second mounting means (17) for pivotal movement, and the second mounting means (17) preferably has first stop means (28) for locating the second coupling means (20) in the limit position of the wing (2) and second stop means (29) for locating the second coupling means (20) for automatic re-engagement of the coupling means (9;20). A restrictor device according to any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the locating means (22,23;24,25) are provided by respective co-operating formations (22,23;24,25) of the mounting means (6;17). A restrictor device according to Claim 8 characterised in that the co-operating formations (22,23;24,25) comprise at least one projection (24,25) on one of the mounting means (6;17) that is received in a recess (22,23) in the other mounting means (6;17) on closing the wing (2). A restrictor device according to Claim 9 characterised in that the first and second coupling means (9;20) are received between opposed side walls of the first mounting means (6) when the wing (2) is closed, and the second mounting means (17) has at least one pair of projections (24,25) received in aligned recesses (22,23) in the opposed side walls of the first mounting means (6). A restrictor device according to Claim 10 wherein the first mounting means (6) has two pairs of recesses (22,23) and the second mounting means (17) has two pairs of aligned projections (24,25) spaced apart in the direction of sliding movement of the first coupling means (9). A restrictor device according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 characterised in that the recesses (22,23) have ramp faces (26,27) co-operable with the aligned projections (24,25).

Inventors: HARRISON PETER JAMES, TIPPIN ARTHUR DAVID, HARRISON, PETER JAMES, TIPPIN, ARTHUR DAVID
Applicants: HARDWARE & SYSTEMS PATENTS LTD, HARDWARE & SYSTEMS PATENTS LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: E05C17
IPC codes: E05B15, E05C17