Abstract:
An around-the-corner locking mechanism is mounted using known tie-bar guides so as to cause a self-locating feature for the device on a casement or awning window. The device has an adjustable connecting link so that standard lock system tie bars can be used at industry standard spacings, while also being adaptable to custom sized windows. The mechanism, through an around-the-corner component, has tie bars integrated directly into the around-the-corner component so as to provide a locking point on a casement window jamb at a nearly constant distance from the head or sill of the window, and another linked locking point on the head or sill itself. The tie bars in the around-the-corner component can be linked through an adjustable length linking component to a driving tie bar and slave tie bars to provide still more locking points.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to casement and awning windows, and more specifically to multi-point lock mechanisms for casement and awning windows. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Casement and awning type windows are a popular choice for operable windows in residential and commercial building construction. A common drawback of such windows, however, is that the sash can deflect due to pressure differences between the inside and outside of a structure, for example during high wind conditions. This problem becomes more acute as sashes are made relatively wider, and can lead to failure of the window. 
         [0003]    Prior approaches to addressing the problem of sash deflection have involved applying locking mechanisms, not only along the side margin of the sash opposite the hinge, but also along the top and bottom margins of the sash. These approaches have sometimes involved separately actuated control mechanisms for the side locking points and for the locking points along the top and bottom of the sash. A drawback of this approach, however, is that it adds complexity, not only to assembly of the window, but also to operation of the window, since a user must separately operate all the different locking mechanisms. 
         [0004]    Another approach has been to link a side locking mechanism to locking points along the top and/or bottom of the sash through an around-the-corner linkage. A drawback of such known linkages, however, is that they are not easily adjustable or variable so as to account for different window sizes. Further, they can be difficult to properly locate on the window frame during installation. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, what is needed is a window locking system that enables simultaneous engagement of locking points on the sides and top and/or bottom of a casement or awning window, yet is easily adjusted and installed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Embodiments of the present invention address the need for a window locking system that enables simultaneous engagement of locking points on the sides and top and/or bottom of a casement or awning window, yet is easily adjusted and installed. 
         [0007]    According to embodiments of the invention, an around-the-corner locking mechanism is mounted using known tie-bar guides so as to cause a self-locating feature for the device on a casement or awning window. The device has an adjustable connecting link so that standard lock system tie bars can be used at industry standard spacings, while also being adaptable to custom sized windows. The mechanism, through an around-the-corner component, has tie bars integrated directly into the around-the-corner component so as to provide a locking point on a casement window jamb at a nearly constant distance from the head or sill of the window, and another linked locking point on the head or sill itself. The tie bars in the around-the-corner component can be linked to a driving tie bar and slave tie bars to provide still more locking points. 
         [0008]    The final absolute position of these locking points can be varied by varying the distance of the tie bar guides from the frame members through height of the tie bar guide bases or with shims, and the position of the locking points relative to the sash can be varied with tabs extending from the tie bar guides. In addition, the housing of the around-the-corner component can be made flexible to accommodate window frame members that are not oriented at right angles to each other. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the invention, a multi-point locking mechanism for a window includes an around-the-corner drive with a housing having a first portion and a second portion disposed at an angle relative to the first portion, the first portion and the second portion each defining a channel, the around-the-corner drive further including a flexible drive ribbon slidably disposed in the channel. The mechanism further includes a pair of tie bar guides, a first one of the tie bar guides coupled to the first portion of the housing and a second one of the tie bar guides coupled to the second portion of the housing, each of the tie bar guides defining a channel. The mechanism also has a pair of tie bars, one of the tie bars slidably disposed through the channel of the first tie bar guide and operably coupled to a first end of the flexible drive ribbon, the other tie bar guide disposed through the channel of the second tie bar guide and operably coupled to a second end of the flexible drive ribbon. The flexible drive ribbon can be at least one steel band and a polymer component. Each of the tie bars can present a locking point. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the mechanism can further include at least one adjustable length connecting link operably coupled to one of the tie bars. The adjustable length connecting link can define a plurality of fastener holes and a laterally oriented score line registered with each of the fastener holes, the adjustable length connecting link being adapted to fracture at the score lines to enable permanent alteration of a length dimension of the adjustable length connecting link. 
         [0011]    The mechanism can include at least one keeper. The tie bar guides can have a tab portion arranged to abut the frame and thereby space the tie bars predetermined distance apart from the frame, and/or a base portion arranged to space the tie bars apart from the frame. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment, a window system includes a frame defining an opening, a sash hinged to the frame and selectively shiftable to close the opening, and a multi-point locking mechanism for latching the sash to the frame. The mechanism can include an around-the-corner drive including a housing having a first portion and a second portion disposed at an angle relative to the first portion, the first portion and the second portion each defining a channel, the around-the-corner drive further including a flexible drive ribbon slidably disposed in the channel. The mechanism may further include a pair of tie bar guides, a first one of the tie bar guides coupled to the first portion of the housing and attached to a first portion of the frame, a second one of the tie bar guides coupled to the second portion of the housing and attached to a second portion of the frame disposed at an angle to the first portion of the frame, each of the tie bar guides defining a channel. The mechanism can further include a pair of tie bars, one of the tie bars slidably disposed through the channel of the first tie bar guide and operably coupled to a first end of the flexible drive ribbon, the other tie bar guide disposed through the channel of the second tie bar guide and operably coupled to a second end of the flexible drive ribbon, each of the tie bars presenting a locking point, and a pair of keepers operably coupled to the sash, wherein the tie bars and the flexible drive ribbon are selectively slidably shiftable to engage and disengage the locking points from the keepers. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the window system can include at least one adjustable length connecting link operably coupled to one of the tie bars. The adjustable length connecting link may define a plurality of fastener holes and a laterally oriented score line registered with each of the fastener holes, the adjustable length connecting link being adapted to fracture at the score lines to enable permanent alteration of a length dimension of the adjustable length connecting link. 
         [0014]    In a further embodiment, the system may include a control lever and a driving tie bar coupled to the control lever, with the adjustable length connecting link operably coupling one of the tie bars of the locking mechanism to the driving tie bar. The system can include a second adjustable length connecting link and a slave tie bar, the slave tie bar operably coupling the other one of the tie bars of the mechanism to the slave tie bar. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0015]    The embodiments of the present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a casement window; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a partial isometric view of a window locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention as mounted on a casement window; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a partial isometric view of a window locking mechanism according to another embodiment of the invention as mounted on a casement window; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a partial isometric view of the around-the-corner drive of a mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention as mounted on a casement window; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a partial isometric view of the around-the-corner drive of  FIG. 4  with the housing of the device depicted in phantom so as to show the flexible drive ribbon; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a partial isometric view of a window locking mechanism according to another embodiment of the invention as mounted on a casement window; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7 a    is an isometric view of a window locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention with one configuration of tie bar guides; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7 b    is an isometric view of the window locking mechanism of  FIG. 7 a    with another configuration of tie bar guides; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8 a    is a side elevation view of the window locking mechanism of  FIG. 7   a;    
           [0025]      FIG. 8 b    is a side elevation view of the window locking mechanism of  FIG. 7   b;    
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the window locking mechanism of  FIG. 7 a   , taken at section  9 - 9  and mounted on a casement window; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view the window locking mechanism of  FIG. 7 b    taken at section  10 - 10  and mounted on a casement window; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the link portion of the window locking mechanism of  FIG. 2  taken at inset  11 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a window locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention with a shortened link member; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of two window locking mechanisms according to embodiments of the invention in which a housing of one of the mechanisms has been flexed to accommodate a window in which the window frame has a jamb member that is not perpendicular with the sill. 
       
    
    
       [0031]    While the present invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the present invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    Embodiments of a multi-point window locking mechanism  20  for casement and awning windows are depicted in  FIGS. 1-13 . Mechanism  20  generally includes around-the-corner drive  22 , tie bars  24 ,  25 , tie bar guides  26 , adjustable length connecting link  28 , and keepers  30 . Around-the-corner drive  22  generally includes housing  32  and flexible drive ribbon  34 . Housing  32  has a first portion or leg  33   a  and a second portion or leg  33   b , and defines enclosed channel  36  through portions  33   a ,  33   b , extending from first end  38  to second end  40 . Housing  32  also defines and tie bar guide receiving recesses  42 . Housing  32  may also have corner ribs  46  extending outwardly from bottom side  44 . 
         [0033]    Flexible drive ribbon  34  generally includes base steel band  48 , accompanied by flexible polymer spacer component  50  in order to inhibit buckling. Polymer spacer layer  50  defines laterally oriented ridges  52 , which can serve to take up excess clearance between flexible drive ribbon  34  and the walls of channel  36 . It will be appreciated, however, that flexible drive ribbon  34  could be any other flexible structure or material that has sufficient rigidity and strength to transmit the forces applied during lock point actuation. Further, it will be appreciated that more than one steel band  48  can be provided as desired to provide additional rigidity and strength. Flexible drive ribbon  34  is slidably received in channel  36  of housing  32 . 
         [0034]    Tie bars  24 ,  25 , extend into first end  38  and second end  40  respectively of channel  36 , and are coupled to flexible drive ribbon  34  with rivets  54 . Each of tie bars  24 ,  25 , presents a lock point  56 , having a barrel portion  58 , and a larger diameter head portion  60 . 
         [0035]    Tie bar guides  26  can be known tie bar guide components such as are disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2012/0146342 A1, entitled SELF LOCATING TIE BAR GUIDE FOR SASH LOCK TIE BARS, said application being hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. As an alternative, tie-bar guides  26  can be any other similar tie bar guide component. Each of tie bar guides  26  is received in one of tie bar guide recesses  42 . Tie bar  24 ,  25 , extends through, and is slidably guided in channel  62  defined in the tie bar guide  26 . Each tie bar  24 ,  25 , can be coupled to a tie bar  64 ,  66 , mounted to a casement window frame  68  with further tie bar guides  70 . At least one of the tie bars  64 ,  66 , can be a driving tie bar that is slidably shifted by a control lever (not depicted), as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,014 B2, entitled MULTI-POINT SASH LOCK SYSTEM FOR CASEMENT WINDOW, said patent being fully incorporated herein by reference. The other tie bar can be a so-called “slave” tie bar that is not coupled to any separate control lever, but is instead shifted by the driving tie bar through mechanism  20 . Each of tie bars  64 ,  66 , include one or more lock points  56 , again having a barrel portion  58 , and a larger diameter head portion  60 . Tie bars  24 ,  25 , are coupled to tie bars  64 ,  66 , with adjustable length connecting links  28 . Each of adjustable length connecting links  28  defines a plurality of fastener holes  72 . Connecting link  28  may be made from polymer material, and may have a transversely oriented score line  74  registered with each fastener hole, so that the length of the link  28  can be permanently altered by breaking the link at any of the score lines  74 . Tie bars  24 ,  25 , can be coupled to connecting link  28  with a screw  76  or other suitable fastener through aperture  78  in tie bar  24 ,  25 , and one of fastener holes  72 . Similarly, tie bars  64 ,  66 , are coupled to connecting link  28  with a screw  80  or other similar fastener through aperture  82  in tie bar  64 ,  66 , and another of fastener holes  72 . Each of keepers  30  generally includes hook portion  84  defining slot  86 . 
         [0036]    In use, mechanism  20  is attached to frame  88  of a casement window  90  with screws  92  through fastener holes  94  in tie bar guides  26 . Each tie bar  24 ,  25 , of mechanism  20  is coupled to a separate one of tie bars  64 ,  66 , with connecting link  28  as described hereinabove. As is known in the art and depicted in  FIG. 1 , swinging sash  96  of casement window  90  is coupled to frame  88  with hinges (not depicted). Each of keepers  30  are attached to swinging sash  96  of casement window  90  with slot  86  registered with one of lock points  56 . With the sash  96  in the closed position, that is closing the opening  97  defined by the frame  88 , the control lever coupled to the primary tie bar can be actuated to longitudinally slide the primary tie bar, which in turn, slides tie bar  24 , flexible drive ribbon  34  of around-the-corner drive  22 , and tie bar  25 , which are all coupled together. Accordingly, each lock point  56  is shifted into engagement in a slot  86  of one of keepers  30 , thereby locking sash  96  in place in frame  88  and inhibiting sash  96  from being opened. When it is desired to open sash  96 , the control lever can be actuated in the opposite direct to shift lock points  56  out of slots  86 . 
         [0037]    Several features of the disclosed lock mechanism facilitate adjustability of the mechanism  20  to easily accommodate different size windows or different window geometries. For example, since mechanism  20  is mounted using tie bar guides  26 , the selection of different tie bar guides can accommodate mounting of the mechanism  20  in any desired location relative to the frame and sash. As depicted in  FIG. 10 , where it is desired to mount mechanism  20  spaced apart a relatively greater distance from sash  96 , tie bar guide  26  can include a tab  98  with a length L corresponding to the desired spacing that can be abutted with a vertical wall  99  of the frame  88 . Of course, tab  98  can be made to any different length, or omitted entirely as depicted in  FIG. 9 , where it is desired to mount mechanism  20  relatively closer to sash  96 . Thus, by simply abutting the tie bar guide against a vertical wall of the frame, the entire assembly is automatically located at a desired position on the frame relative to the sash and is correctly aligned. 
         [0038]    Similarly, tie bar guide  26  can include an elevated base  100  where it is desired to mount tie bars  24 ,  25 , a relatively greater distance from peripheral wall  102  of frame  88 . Alternatively, base  100  can be omitted entirely as depicted in  FIG. 9 , where it is desirable to mount tie bars  24 ,  25 , a relatively lesser distance from peripheral wall  102  of frame  88 . In addition, shims (not depicted) can be inserted between tie bar guides  26  and frame  88  to achieve other spacings. 
         [0039]    Adjustable length connecting link  28  provides further flexibility in mounting mechanism  20 . For larger windows, where the spacing between the ends of tie bars  24 ,  25 , and tie bars  64 ,  66 , may be relatively greater, link  28  can be used with its full length as depicted in  FIG. 11 . For smaller windows where the spacing between the ends of tie bars  24 ,  25 , and tie bars  64 ,  66 , may be relatively lesser, link  28  may be altered in length by breaking at one of score lines  74  to result in a shorter link as depicted in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0040]    Moreover, housing  32  of around-the-corner drive  22  may itself be made flexible as depicted in  FIG. 13  so as to accommodate frames  88  forming angles different than 90 degrees, such as may be encountered in hexagonal or other polygon shaped windows. With the features described above, it will be appreciated that mechanism  20  can be easily adjusted to accommodate virtually any size or shape of window, while also enabling easy location and mounting of the mechanism on the window during assembly. 
         [0041]    The foregoing descriptions present numerous specific details that provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various embodiments, having been disclosed herein, may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, components as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail herein in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments are set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, this disclosure is illustrative only. Other embodiments may be constructed that nevertheless employ the principles and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. 
         [0042]    For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.