Patent Publication Number: US-2011056139-A1

Title: Outwardly opening for a window or door assemble

Description:
The present invention relates to an outwardly opening window or door assembly comprising a sash carrying a window pane or door leaf and being mounted in a frame movable between an open position and a closed position, a locking device comprising a housing being mounted in a cavity of a sash member of the sash, the locking device comprising at least one displaceable locking element adapted to engage a striking plate mounted on the frame and a handle adapted to displace the locking element between a locked position and an unlocked position, the handle protruding through an actuation opening in a face of the sash member, said face of the sash member being substantially at right angles to the window pane or door leaf. 
     In known outwardly opening window or door assemblies it may be difficult to replace the handle, as the entire housing of the locking device must be removed from the sash in order to disassemble the handle from the locking device. Furthermore, restrictions exist to the design of the handle, because the handle must be of such a form that it can pass through the actuation opening in the face of the sash member in order to be removed with the locking device. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide an outwardly opening window or door assembly, wherein the handle is easier to replace. 
     In view of this object, the outwardly opening window or door assembly is characterized in that the handle is provided with an at least partially circular engagement portion extending through the actuation opening in the face of the sash member, and in that the at least partially circular engagement portion is provided with a wedge shaped recess that is releasably engaged with a correspondingly shaped wedge shaped element pivotably arranged in the housing. 
     Thereby, the handle may be easily removed from the locking device by releasing the engagement between the at least partially circular engagement portion and the wedge shaped element. The at least partially circular engagement portion may be lifted out through the actuation opening, without the handle needing to pass through the opening. 
     In an embodiment, the wedge shaped element is pivotably arranged about an axis located near said face of the sash member being substantially at right angles to the window pane or door leaf. Thereby, a relatively close fit between the at least partially circular engagement portion and the actuation opening is possible, still allowing the at least partially circular engagement portion to be removed through the actuation opening. A close fit is esthetically preferable and avoids problems with dirt entering the locking device. 
     In an embodiment, the at least partially circular engagement portion is releasably engaged with the wedge shaped element by means of a pin extending tangentially in the at least partially circular engagement portion. Thereby, the handle may be removed without access to the locking device. 
     In an embodiment, the pin is accessible from outside the sash member, when the handle is in the unlocked position. Thereby, the pin is invisible in the locked position of the handle. 
     In an embodiment, the housing comprises two opposed side walls that extend through the actuation opening in the face of the sash member and cover the at least partially circular engagement portion of the handle, and the wedge shaped element is pivotably mounted in the two opposed side walls that extend through the actuation opening. Thereby, the engagement between the at least partially circular engagement portion wedge shaped element is invisible and protected from dirt, although the axis of the wedge shaped element is located at the outside of the sash member. 
     In an embodiment, the wedge shaped element is pivotably connected to a link arm that is pivotably connected to a first displaceable element that is arranged displaceably in the housing in the longitudinal direction of the sash member and carries a first locking element, and in that the pivot point between the wedge shaped element and the link arm, in the locked position of the handle, is arranged on the opposite side of the line that connects the pivot point between the wedge shaped element and the housing and the pivot point between the link arm and the first displaceable element when compared to the position of the pivot point between the wedge shaped element and the link arm in the unlocked position of the handle. Thereby, in the locked position, an unauthorized attempt to open the window or door by displacing the first locking element will result in the handle being rotated even more in the closing direction, which may be prevented by a stopper. 
     In an embodiment, a second displaceable element is arranged displaceably in the housing in the longitudinal direction of the sash member and carries a second locking element, and a gear in the form of a pivotable element with two arms protruding from a centre pivot is arranged such that a first of the two arms is placed in a recess in the first displaceable element and a second of the two arms is placed in a recess in the second displaceable element. Thereby, the first and the second locking elements will be displaced in opposite directions in order to engage their respective striking plates when locking the window or door, thereby preventing attempts to open the window or door by displacing the sash in the direction of the sash member comprising the locking device. 
     In an embodiment, the second of the two arms is longer than the first of the two arms. This may counteract the effect of backlash in the gear connecting the first and second locking elements, so that it is obtained that both locking elements travels the same distance during the locking operation. 
     In an embodiment, the first and the second displaceable elements are provided with locking elements in the form of a first and a second mushroom cam, respectively, for engagement with a centre striking plate mounted on a frame member extending along the sash member comprising the locking device. Thereby, the tamper proof effect of the opposite travel direction of the first and the second locking elements may be enhanced, as the first and a second mushroom cams may engage opposed recesses in a single striking plate. When trying to force one mushroom cam away from the centre striking plate, the other mushroom cam will be pressed more in to the centre striking plate. 
     In an embodiment, the first and the second displaceable elements are provided with locking elements in the form of first and second espagnolette bolts, respectively, extending along an outer edge of the sash member that comprises the locking device and being arranged for engagement with corner striking plates mounted at corners of the frame. 
     In an embodiment, the first and second espagnolette bolts have a rectangular shape with one dimension being larger than the other dimension, so that the larger dimension is arranged perpendicular to a general plane of the window pane or door leaf. In this way, the bolts do not protrude out from the sash very much. Furthermore, since the large dimension of the cross section of the bolts is arranged perpendicular to the general plane of the window or door assembly, the strength of the bolt in the direction which would be exposed to large forces during an attempted break-in will be very large. 
     In an embodiment, each of the first and second espagnolette bolts has an engagement portion adapted to engage a respective corner striking plate, wherein the engagement portion is split up into two separate end bolts spaced in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the window pane or door leaf. Thereby, a ventilation position of the window or door is provided when only one of the separate end bolts is engaged with the corner striking plate. 
     In an embodiment, a centre striking plate comprises a first flange and a second flange which are arranged at an angle to each other, the second flange is mounted to an outwardly facing surface of a frame member extending along the sash member comprising the locking device, and the first flange comprises L-shaped recesses for engagement with the mushroom cams of the locking device. Due to the arrangement of the striking plate, in the case where the window or door assembly is attempted to be forced open, the striking plate will bend such that it is even more locked. 
     In an embodiment, first and second corner striking plates are arranged at the corners of the frame corresponding to the first and second espagnolette bolts, respectively, and each corner striking plate comprises a first flange having a recess for engagement with the respective espagnolette bolt and a second flange being mounted to an outwardly facing surface of both frame members at the respective corner. As the corner striking plate is attached to both frame members at the corner, the strength of the joint is increased, and the forces applied to the striking plate are allowed to be split between the two frame members. The striking plate is also arranged such that if force is applied during a break in attempt, the striking plate will bend about a line connecting the mounting screws across the corner, and the striking plate will bend into an even more locked position. 
     The present application further discloses a separate invention relating to a locking device for a window or door assembly, the locking device comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a cavity of a sash member of the sash, the locking device comprising at least one displaceable locking element adapted to engage a striking plate mounted on the frame and a handle adapted to displace the locking element between a locked position and an unlocked position, the handle being adapted to rotate a rotating element arranged in the housing and being pivotably connected to a link arm that is pivotably connected to a first displaceable element that is arranged displaceably in the housing in the longitudinal direction of the sash member and carries a first locking element, and a longitudinal axis of the link arm, in the locked position of the handle, being arranged on the opposite side of the line that connects the pivot point between the rotating element and the housing and the pivot point between the link arm and the first displaceable element when compared to the position of the longitudinal axis of the link arm in the unlocked position of the handle. 
     The present application further discloses a separate invention relating to a locking device for a window or door assembly, the locking device comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a cavity of a sash member of the sash, the locking device comprising first and second displaceable locking elements adapted to engage a striking plate mounted on the frame and a handle adapted to displace the locking elements between a locked position and an unlocked position, a gear in the form of a pivotable element with two arms protruding from a centre pivot is arranged such that a first of the two arms is placed in a recess in the first displaceable element and a second of the two arms is placed in a recess in the second displaceable element, and, preferably, the second of the two arms is longer than the first of the two arms. The displaceable elements may be provided with locking elements in the form of mushroom cams and/or espagnolette bolts. 
     The present application further discloses a separate invention relating to a centre striking plate comprising a first flange and a second flange which are arranged at an angle to each other, the second flange being adapted to be mounted to an outwardly facing surface of a frame member extending along a sash member comprising a locking device, and the first flange comprising L-shaped recesses for engagement with mushroom cams of the locking device, the centre striking plate preferably having a design substantially as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10  or in  FIG. 25 . 
     The present application further discloses a separate invention relating to a corner striking plate adapted to be arranged at a corner of a frame, the corner striking plate comprising a first flange having a recess for engagement with an espagnolette bolt and a second flange being adapted to be mounted by means of screws to an outwardly facing surface of both frame members at the corner, the corner striking plate preferably having a design substantially as shown in  FIG. 11  or in  FIGS. 21 and 22 . 
    
    
     
       The inventions will now be explained in more detail below by means of examples of embodiments with reference to the very schematic drawing, in which 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a complete outwardly opening side hinged window or door assembly according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a detailed side view of the locking device shown in  FIG. 1  in the locked position. 
         FIG. 3  shows a detailed side view of the locking device shown in  FIG. 2  but without the housing so that the inner workings of the locking device can be seen. 
         FIG. 4  shows a detailed side view of the locking device shown in  FIG. 3  but in the open position. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective detailed view of the locking device shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded perspective view of the locking device shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  shows an exploded perspective view of the procedure used to mount the locking device in a sash member. 
         FIGS. 8 to 10  show respectively a perspective view, a top view and a side view of a locking plate to which the locking device of  FIG. 2  locks when the window or door assembly of  FIG. 1  is closed. 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a corner locking plate to which the bolts of the locking device lock when the window or door assembly of  FIG. 1  is closed. 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  show perspective illustrations of a window or door assembly according to the current invention, whereby a small-scale figure indicates the complete window or door assembly, and a large-scale figure shows the fittings only, and whereby the locking device is in the unlocked position. 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  show perspective illustrations of a window or door assembly according to the current invention, whereby a small-scale figure indicates the complete window or door assembly, and a large-scale figure shows the fittings only, and whereby the locking device is in the locked position. 
         FIG. 16  shows an exploded perspective view of the locking device shown in  FIGS. 12 to 15 . 
         FIG. 17  shows a detailed side view of the locking device shown in  FIG. 16 , in the unlocked position, but without the front part of the housing so that the inner workings of the locking device can be seen. 
         FIG. 18  shows a detailed side view of the locking device shown in  FIG. 17  but in the locked position. 
         FIG. 19  shows a perspective view of the upper espagnolette bolt in the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of the upper espagnolette bolt in the locked position shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 21  shows a perspective view of the upper corner striking plate shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 22  shows a perspective view of the lower corner striking plate shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 23  shows a detailed perspective view of the locking device in the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 24  shows a detailed perspective view of the locking device in the locked position shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 25  shows a detailed perspective view of the centre striking plate shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows an outwardly opening side hinged window assembly  1  according to the current invention. However, the invention is likewise applicable to a door assembly. The window or door assembly comprises a frame  2  made up of four frame elements or members  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ,  2   d  connected together with mitre joints, a sash  3  made up of four sash elements  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c ,  3   d  connected together with mitre joints and a triple glazed pane of glass  4  arranged inside the sash  3 . Two corner hinges  5  and a centre hinge  6  connect the sash  3  to the frame  2 . 
     A locking device  7  forming part of an espagnolette mechanism is used to lock the sash in the closed position.  FIGS. 2 to 7  show different views of an embodiment of the locking device  7 . The locking device  7  is adapted to displace two espagnolette bolts  8  outwards in opposite directions such that they protrude from the outer edges of the sash. The locking device  7  also comprises two mushroom cams  9  which are also displaced outwards in opposite directions, as shown by the arrows  100  when the locking device is locked. The espagnolette bolts engage with corner striking plates  10 , which are mounted at the corners of the frame, when the window or door assembly is closed and the locking device is in its locked position, and the mushroom cams engage with a centre striking plate  11  mounted at the centre of the frame when the window or door assembly is closed and the locking device is in its locked position.  FIG. 1  shows the window assembly in its open position and the locking device in its locked position.  FIGS. 14 and 15  show another embodiment of the window assembly in its open position and the locking device in its locked position.  FIGS. 12 and 13  show this latter embodiment of the window assembly in its open position and the locking device in its unlocked position. 
     A window or door brake device  12  is mounted on the top sash element and is activated by the displacement of the upper espagnolette bolt  8  of the espagnolette mechanism. The window or door brake device  12  is arranged such that the window or door is held in the open position when the locking device  7  is in the locked position. When the locking device  7  is put into its unlocked position, the window or door brake device  12  allows the sash  3  to freely open and close. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the espagnolette bolts  8  are arranged as rods having a rectangular cross section. As can be seen the longitudinal axes of the bolts are arranged along the outer edge of the sash element. In this particular embodiment, the bolts are arranged visibly on the outer edge of the sash element, but they could also be integrated inside the sash element in another embodiment. In the case where the bolts are visible, they could be made from the same material as the sash element. This will give a good visual impression. 
     The espagnolette bolts  8  are also arranged such that the cross section of the bolts has a rectangular shape with one dimension being larger than the other dimension, see  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The larger dimension is arranged perpendicular to the plane of the window or door assembly and the smaller dimension is arranged parallel to the plane of the window or door assembly. In this way, the espagnolette bolt does not protrude out from the sash very much. Furthermore, since the large dimension of the cross section of the bolt is arranged perpendicular to the plane of the window or door assembly, the strength of the bolt in the direction which would be exposed to large forces during an attempted break-in will be very large. It should be noted that the espagnolette bolts  8  are shown as a single element in the figures which are connected to the locking device and which engage with the corner striking plates on the frame when locked. However, it could also be imagined that each of the bolts were arranged as an elongated member and a bolt, where the bolt is arranged to engage with the striking plate and the elongated member is arranged to connect the bolt with the locking device. In this way, the bolt could be made from metal and the elongated member could for instance be made from a composite material. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 2 to 7 , the locking device  7  comprises a housing  101 , a handle  102 , a first displaceable element  103 , a second displaceable element  104 , a link arm  105  pivotably connected to the first displaceable element  103  at a pivot point  124  and pivotably connected at a pivot point  125  to a wedge shaped element  111  located in a wedge shaped recess  110  of the handle  102 , and a pivotable element  106  for transferring the motion of the first displaceable element to the second displaceable element. The handle  102  is together with the wedge shaped element  111  pivotably arranged in the housing about a pivot point  126 . As the handle pivots counter clockwise with respect to the figures as shown by the arrow  107  in  FIG. 4 , the link arm  105  is pulled to the right in the figures as shown by the arrow  108  in  FIG. 4 . The first displaceable element  103  is therefore displaced to the right. A gear in the form of the pivotable element  106  with two arms  127 ,  128  protruding from a centre pivot point  129  is arranged such that one  127  of the two arms is placed in a recess  130  in the first displaceable element  103 . The second  128  of the two arms is placed in a recess  131  in the second displaceable element  104 . As the first displaceable element  103  moves to the right, the pivotable element  106  rotates counter clockwise with regards to the figures. The second displaceable element  104  is therefore moved to the left as shown by the arrow  109  in  FIG. 4 . 
     It should be noted that the pivotable element  106  takes the place of a toothed gear wheel usually used in mechanisms of this type. The use of a pivotable element with two arms instead of a toothed gear wheel results in a number of advantages. A first advantage is that the mechanism cannot be assembled incorrectly. Another advantage is that the arms of the pivotable element can be made stronger than the teeth of a toothed gear wheel. Yet another advantage is that the second  128  of the two arms may be longer than the first  127  of the two arms. This may counteract the effect of backlash in the gear connecting the first and second displaceable elements  103 ,  104 , so that it is obtained that both displaceable elements travels the same distance during the locking operation. 
     A first espagnolette bolt  8 a and a first mushroom cam  9   a  are connected to the first displaceable element  103  and a second espagnolette bolt  8   b  and a second mushroom cam  9   b  are connected to the second displaceable element  104 . As the displaceable elements are displaced, the respective espagnolette bolts and mushroom cams are also displaced. 
       FIGS. 16 to 18  show another embodiment of the locking device  7  according to the invention. In this embodiment, in the locked position of the locking device  7  as shown in  FIG. 18 , the pivot point  125  between the wedge shaped element  111  and the link arm  105 , in the locked position of the handle  102 , is arranged on the opposite side of the line  132  that connects the pivot point  126  between the wedge shaped element  111  and the housing  101  and the pivot point  124  between the link arm  105  and the first displaceable element  103  when compared to the position of the pivot point  125  between the wedge shaped element  111  and the link arm  105  in the unlocked position of the locking device  7  as shown in  FIG. 17 . In this way, the locking device is self locking whereby it is not possible to force the handle to rotate into an open position by pushing on the espagnolette bolts or the mushroom cams when the locking device is in the locked position. By forcing the espagnolette bolts or the mushroom cams in the locked position of the window or door, the handle will try to rotate to an even more locked position. 
     Furthermore, in the embodiment of the locking device  7  shown in  FIGS. 16 to 18 , a cut-out  141  has been provided in the housing  101  in order to provide suitable rest positions for the handle  102  in the locked and unlocked positions, respectively. The pivot point  125  between the wedge shaped element  111  and the link arm  105  is provided with a pin  142  which, in the unlocked position of the handle  102 , engages at the position  143  of the cut-out  141 , and which, in the locked position of the handle  102 , engages at the position  144  of the cut-out  141 , see  FIG. 16 . During rotation of the handle, the wall parts of the housing  101  surrounding the cut-out  141 , especially the tabs  145 ,  146 , flex elastically in order to permit passage of the pin  142 . Thereby, a suitable click-feeling is provided to the user when rotating the handle. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 6 , the handle  102  has the wedge shaped recess  110  which is engaged with the correspondingly shaped wedge shaped element  111  which is pivotably arranged in the housing  101  about the pivot point  126 . When the handle is engaged with the wedge shaped element  111 , a pin  112  is pressed through an opening in the handle and the wedge shaped element. This holds the handle firmly attached to the wedge shaped element. By removing the pin, the handle can be removed from the locking device  7  and exchanged with another handle. Washers  113  are arranged on either side of the wedge shaped element. The washers are made from a relatively soft material so that there will be a certain amount of friction between the housing and the handle. This will give a better feel to the movement of the handle. This better movement will give a feeling of good quality to the user. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 7 , the locking device  7  is arranged to be attached to the sash element by first inserting the housing of the locking device through a hole in the sash element from below the sash element and then inserting the handle, from the top of the sash element, into an actuation opening  114  in a face  136  of the sash member, said face  136  of the sash member being substantially at right angles to the window pane or door leaf. Once the handle  102  is in place, a pin  112  is inserted through a circular engagement portion  133  of the handle  102  which holds the handle firmly on the housing. The pin  112  extends tangentially in the circular engagement portion  133 . In this way, it is possible to later on change the handle if desired. 
     It should be noted, that when the handle is rotated to the closed position, the pin is not visible and cannot be removed, as its outward end is rotated with the handle to a position inside the housing  101 . Due to this, if the handle is to be removed, it must first be rotated to the open position of the locking device. The housing  101  comprises two opposed side walls  137  that extend through the actuation opening  114  in the face  136  of the sash member and cover the circular engagement portion  133  of the handle  102 , and the wedge shaped element  111  is pivotably mounted in the two opposed side walls  137 . 
       FIGS. 8 to 10  show details of the centre striking plate  11  of the locking device. As can be seen from the figures the striking plate comprises a first flange  120  and a second flange  121  which are arranged at an angle to each other. The second flange is mounted to an outwardly facing surface  25  of the frame member  2  and the second flange comprises L-shaped  122  recesses for fastening on to the mushroom cams  9  of the locking device. Since the locking device is arranged to displace the mushroom cams outwardly when locked, the striking plate  11  is formed with two L shaped recesses  122  where the L&#39;s are arranged back to back, such that the base portions of the L&#39;s point away from each other. The advantage of having two mushroom cams which move away from each other in the closed position, is that the strength of the window or door assembly against break in is increased. When trying to force one mushroom cam away from the striking plate, the other mushroom cam will be pressed more in to the striking plate. It can also be seen that due to the arrangement of the striking plate, in the case where the window or door assembly is attempted to be forced open, the striking plate will bend such that it is even more locked. Also, the forces which are applied when attempting to force the window or door open are arranged such that the striking plate is exposed to tensile forces arranged in a direction in which the striking plate is very strong. The forces are transferred directly back to the frame member. In this way, the locking device is very strong. A slightly modified embodiment of the centre striking plate  11  is shown in  FIG. 25 . In fact, in this embodiment, the outer part of the flange  120  has been cut off when compared to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 . This may especially be advantageous in a slim frame and sash construction. 
     The corner striking plate  10  shown in  FIG. 11  is arranged at the corner of the window or door assembly. As with the corner hinges, the corner striking plate is also attached to both frame members at the corner via screws (not shown). This again increases the strength of the joint and allows the forces applied to the corner striking plate to be split between the two frame members. The corner striking plate is also arranged such that if force is applied during a break in attempt, the corner striking plate will bend about the line  123  which connects the two mounting screws and the corner striking plate will bend into an even more locked position. 
     It should be noted that in both the centre striking plate  11  and the corner striking plate  10  shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , only a single locking position is provided for. However, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12 to 15  and  19  to  22 , the corner striking plates  10  are provided with two recesses  134   a ,  134   b , and the espagnolette bolts  8  are split up into two end bolts  135   a ,  135   b  at their outer end. In this way the window or door can be locked in a slightly open position or it can be locked in a fully closed position. In the slightly open position, the end bolt  135   b  will engage the recess  134   a , see  FIGS. 20 and 21 . In the fully closed position, the end bolt  135   a  engages the recess  134   a  the end bolt  135   b  engages the recess  134   b . The end bolt  135   a  could be omitted, however, especially in a slim frame and sash construction, a better strength of the espagnolette mechanism may be obtained with two end bolts.