Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of copending parent application Ser. No. 10/154,246, filed 23 May 2002, entitled FENESTRATION LOCKING SYSTEM, which parent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/294,533, filed on 30 May 2001. Both the parent application and the Provisional application are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention deals generally with actuators for use in fenestration systems for openings having a swinging closure means such as a swinging sash, door, or gate. More specifically, it pertains to locking systems that use sliding elements to transfer locking motion, especially those using bendable sliding elements to transfer locking motion around a corner. It emphasizes systems using a flexible push-pull member and actuating lever handle arrangements suitable for use with such systems.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Fenestration is generally considered to include any opening in a building&#39;s envelope, including windows, doors, and skylights. The technology applicable in the fenestration context can, however, also be applicable for other enclosure openings, such as gates in walls or fences.  
         [0004]     There are many fenestration locking systems currently in existence. Only a few of these systems use a bendable sliding element to transfer locking motion around a corner. Among systems using a bendable sliding element are sash locking systems that have a flexible cable that extends all the way around the window. In these systems, a locking element can be pulled in two directions by opposing cables for locking and unlocking purposes. However, the cables are only used in a pulling mode; they cannot be used in a pushing mode. More typical are sash locking systems that feature a flexible push-pull member at the corner of the window frame. This push-pull member serves as a bendable sliding element and can be pulled or pushed to lock or unlock a window sash. In these systems, the flexible push-pull member is generally connected to a rigid vertical locking bar carrying the locking pins for the sash. Sash locking systems also use a variety of lever handle arrangements for moving these bendable sliding elements back and forth so as to engage or disengage a sash lock.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,392, issued to Lense in 1989 for an “Apparatus for Actuating and Locking a Window Sash”, provides an example of a design using a flexible push-pull member at a window corner. This patent uses a flexible tape that drives around the corner; but once the tape rounds the corner; it connects to a rigid locking bar that moves up and down to accomplish sash locking. The tape is also moved by an actuator that opens and closes the window, rather than by a separate lever.  
         [0006]     Contrasting but related designs can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,807,914 and 5,370,428. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,914, issued to Fleming et al. in 1989 for a “Window Lock Assembly”, shows a locking system driven by a perforated tape. However, this tape does not extend around a corner. It merely serves as a rack driving a pinion formed as a locking cam. U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,428, issued to Dreifert et al. in 1994 for a “Mechanism for Releasably Locking Sashes in Door or Window Frames”, shows sash locking pins driven by a moving lock bar to which the pins are not attached. The pins are trapped for movement within guides that straddle or cover both sides of the locking bar.  
         [0007]     Of the systems described above, those using a flexible member to form a bendable corner push-pull sliding element have proven to be simpler to construct and less expensive. However, there remains a need for improvements that will create a locking system that is similar in function, but even simpler to manufacture and operate than prior art devices. These improvements should also serve to create a single lever locking system that is more versatile and significantly less expensive to construct and install.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Our first improvement is the use of a uniformly flexible push-pull member that can be used not only to transfer movement around a fenestration corner, but to transfer movement all the way from a distant location on the fenestration edge to a locking member. Thus, our flexible push-pull member can be used to transfer movement from a locking lever at the bottom of a window around the corner and up the side of the frame (or “jamb”) to the position of the upper-most locking pin. In addition, the location of the operative parts of our invention can be reversed. For example, the flexible push-pull member and related parts can be mounted on the door or sash with keepers mounted on or incorporated into the doorframe or jamb. The actuating assembly can, likewise, be mounted either with the flexible push-pull member or opposed to it. Thus, for example, it can be mounted with the flexible push-pull member on a sash or opposed to it on a frame. Further, our invention, unlike prior art devices, is capable of use around irregularly shaped windows and doors. Thus, it can easily be adapted for use around a round window or window opening.  
         [0009]     In our invention, locking pins are not directly attached to the flexible member. In some embodiments of our invention, the locking pins have collars or enlarged portions that trap the pins in place under slotted guides mounted on the edges of the fenestration or fenestration closure means. In other embodiments, the guide is a slotted cover strip that overlays the flexible member and locking pins. In either case, the locking pin is generally provided with a coaxial motion transmitting pin or member that extends into regularly spaced perforations in the flexible member. This eliminates any permanent connection between our locking pins and the flexible member and simplifies the installation of the pins and flexible member. It also allows the locking pins to be mounted to engage various perforations in the flexible member, depending on the dimensional requirements of the door, window, or opening in question. Finally, it can be used to easily increase the locking points for a given sized window. This makes the window more secure and also allows it to pass higher test standards.  
         [0010]     We have also improved the actuating assembly used in our invention. It has a simple three-piece structure. In general, it features a lower piece with a slot that runs parallel with and above the flexible member (or “locking tape”), and an upper piece with a slot oriented transverse to the direction of movement of the locking tape. In this configuration, the locking lever has a drive pin that extends into the locking tape and a pivot pin that extends upward into the slot running transverse to the tape. However, our actuating assembly can also be constructed with both slots and both pins on the same side of the locking lever. In either configuration, as the lever is rotated, the pivot pin moves along the length of the transverse slot while the tape drive pin drives along the direction of movement of the tape. This, in effect, creates a lever arm that is rotatable about two axes of rotation, one provided by the drive pin and the other provided by the pivot arm. The arrangement provides a low mechanical advantage and higher speed movement as the locking motion is commenced, and a greatly increased mechanical advantage and slower speed movement as the locking pins are driven home to pull the sash or door snuggly into a sealed closure with its frame. The arrangement also aligns the two pins with the direction of movement of the tape. Thus, when the sash or door is locked, it is not possible to pry into the edge of the frame and push against the locking pins to move the tape to an unlocked position.  
         [0011]     These improvements serve to create a fenestration locking system that is similar in function but simpler and more effective in installation and application than prior art devices. Indeed, all a user generally needs for implementing our invention in a window or door opening is (1) a strip of flexible member; (2) one or more of our pins; (3) pin guides; (4) a corner bracket for guiding the flexible member around sharp corners; (5) keepers for placement on frame, door, or sash; and (6) an actuating assembly. There is no further need for fixed length locking bars with pins mounted on the locking bars in addition to guide plates supporting such pins or locking bars. These improvements also serve to create a single lever locking system that is significantly less expensive. Indeed, our improved actuating assembly is so compact that the locking lever can fit directly below the operator that opens and closes a sash, putting all the controls neatly in a single location and avoiding any interference with window blinds and curtains. These and the numerous other advantages of our invention will become evident upon review of the drawings and detailed description that follow.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIGS. 1-4B  illustrate an embodiment of our invention where the locking pins are held in place by slotted guides mounted on the edges of a fenestration opening.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an upper locking pin assembly for this embodiment of our invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  provides a first perspective view of a lower locking pin assembly, corner guide, and actuating assembly for this embodiment of our invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  provides a second perspective view of a lower locking pin assembly, corner guide, and actuating assembly for this embodiment of our invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4A  provides a side view of a locking pin for this embodiment of our invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4B  provides a frontal view of a locking pin assembly for this embodiment of our invention.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 5A-6G  illustrate features relevant to the structure, construction, and use of our locking lever.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5A  provides an exploded perspective view of an actuating assembly of our invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5B  provides a perspective view of an actuating assembly of our invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5C  provides an inverted exploded perspective view of an actuating assembly of our invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6A  provides a schematic cross-sectional view of the actuating assembly in an open position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6B  provides a schematic cross-sectional view of the actuating assembly after it has been moved 20 degrees towards a closed position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6C  provides a schematic cross-sectional view of the actuating assembly after it has been moved 40 degrees towards a closed position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6D  provides a schematic cross-sectional view of the actuating assembly after it has been moved 60 degrees towards a closed position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6E  provides a schematic cross-sectional view of the actuating assembly after it has been moved 80 degrees towards a closed position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6F  provides a schematic cross-sectional view of the actuating assembly after it has been moved 100 degrees towards a closed position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6G  provides a schematic cross-sectional view of the actuating assembly after it has been moved 120 degrees towards a closed position.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate an actuating assembly adapted for direct use with a sash keeper, while  FIG. 7D  illustrates an actuating assembly used to drive a rigid lock bar.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7A  provides an exploded perspective view of an actuating assembly adapted for direct use with a sash keeper.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7B  provides a perspective view of the actuating assembly illustrated in  FIG. 7A  in an unlocked position.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7C  provides a perspective view of the actuating assembly illustrated in  FIG. 7A  in a locked position, engaging a sash keeper.  
         [0033]      FIG. 7D  provides a perspective view of an actuating assembly positioned between and interacting with two locking pin assemblies via a rigid lock bar.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 8A-10B  illustrate embodiments of our invention where the locking pins are held in place by slotted cover strips.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8A  provides a perspective view of one of these embodiments of our invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8B  provides a perspective view illustrating a variation of this embodiment of our invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 9A  provides a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8B  mounted at the corner of a fenestration closure means.  
         [0038]      FIG. 9B  provides an exploded view illustrating some of the elements extant in  FIG. 9A .  
         [0039]      FIG. 10A  provides a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the cover strip of our invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 10B  provides a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the cover strip of our invention.  
         [0041]      FIGS. 11A-17D  illustrate additional preferred embodiments and alternatives for several elements of our invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 11A  provides an exploded perspective view of an alternative locking pin and guide.  
         [0043]      FIG. 11B  provides an assembled view of the alternative locking pin and guide illustrated in  FIG. 11A .  
         [0044]      FIG. 12A  provides an exploded perspective view of another alternative having a hook-shaped locking member with its guide.  
         [0045]      FIG. 12B  provides an assembled view of the alternative hook-shaped locking member and guide illustrated in  FIG. 12A .  
         [0046]      FIG. 13A  provides a perspective disassembled view of a two-part locking lever with a separable snap-in handle. The locking pin and drive pin of this embodiment are located on the same sides of the locking lever.  
         [0047]      FIG. 13B  provides a perspective assembled view of the two-part locking lever with separable snap-in handle illustrated in  FIG. 13A .  
         [0048]      FIG. 13C  provides a perspective detailed view of the snaps used to hold the separable snap-in handle of  FIGS. 13A and 13B  in position.  
         [0049]      FIG. 14  provides a perspective view of a first actuating assembly where both slots and both pins are located on the same side of the lever.  
         [0050]      FIG. 15  provides an exploded perspective view of the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 16A  provides a perspective view of an actuating assembly intended for insertion into a rout in a sash, door or frame.  
         [0052]      FIG. 16B  provides an exploded perspective view of the assembly illustrated in  FIG. 16A .  
         [0053]      FIG. 17A  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention installed in a French Casement Window with sashes open.  
         [0054]      FIG. 17B  provides a more detailed perspective view of the actuating assembly of  FIG. 17A .  
         [0055]      FIG. 17C  provides a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 17A  with the sashes closed.  
         [0056]      FIG. 17D  provides a more detailed perspective view of the actuating assembly of  FIG. 17C . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0057]     Tape  1  serves as the flexible push-pull member in our design and can start at an actuating assembly (denoted generally by arrow  300 ). In the embodiments of our invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 B, actuating assembly  300  is mounted on a windowsill  2  or at other locations on the frame (or perimeter) of a fenestration opening. Tape  1  can extend to as many locking pin assembly locations as desired. These could be placed all the way around the perimeter of a fenestration opening (e.g.-all the way around a window or doorframe). In most cases, however, a swinging sash or door will require only the installation of an upper locking pin assembly (denoted generally by arrow  100 ) and a lower locking pin assembly (denoted generally by arrow  200 ) on frame  4  in order to ensure that the sash or door is securely fastened when closed. Thus, in the preferred embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , tape  1  extends around the corner of a window frame via corner bracket  3  and upward along window frame  4  to upper locking pin assembly  100  and lower locking pin assembly  200 .  
         [0058]     In our invention, both locking pin assemblies  100 ,  200  can be substantially identical in terms of their form and parts. Instead of having a locking pin permanently affixed to tape  1 , the locking pins  5  of these embodiments have collars  5 A that trap the locking pins  5  in place within guides  6  mounted on frame  4 . Our locking pins  5  also have a coaxial motion transmitting pin  5 B that extends into pin slots  7  in tape  1 . (Only one pin slot  7  is denoted to avoid over-crowding of the drawing figures.) Collars  5 A keep pins  5  trapped within guides  6  mounted to the casement side (frame  4 ) so that pins  5  extend outward to engage or disengage keepers  8  on the sash, when their motion transmitting pins  5 B are moved up and down by tape  1 .  
         [0059]     The elimination of any permanent connection between our locking pins  5  and tape  1  greatly simplifies the installation of our invention. It also allows upper locking pin assembly  100  and lower locking pin assembly  200  with their respective locking pins  5  to be mounted to engage various pin slots  7  in tape  1 . Tape  1  can be provided in rolls and can easily be trimmed to the length desired. This allows our locking pin assemblies  100 ,  200  to be affixed at virtually any location along frame  4 .  
         [0060]     Thus, both locking pin assemblies  100 ,  200  and actuating assembly  300  can be easily and simply positioned by the installer in any location desired or at any location dictated by the dimensional requirements of the fenestration opening. Some may choose to mount the actuating assembly  300  between locking pin assemblies  100 ,  200  on frame  4 . Ultimately, all a user needs for adding the fenestration locking system of our invention to almost any window or door in almost any configuration is: (1) a strip of perforated tape  1 ; (2) pins  5  for the keepers  8  on the window sash or door; (3) pin guides  6  for frame  4 ; (4) a corner bracket  3  for guiding the tape  1  at the corner of the window or door frame; (5) keepers  8  for the sash or door; and (6) some type of actuating member to move tape  1 . The foregoing components can be advantageously manufactured from a variety of materials, including plastics and metallic materials.  
         [0061]     The preferred actuating member for our invention is actuating assembly  300 , which can be best understood by reviewing  FIGS. 5A through 7C . Locking lever assembly  300  includes a housing  300 A formed from an upper piece  20  with a transverse slot  21  that is transverse to and above locking tape  1  and a lower piece  30  with a parallel slot  31  oriented in the direction of movement of the locking tape  1 . A locking lever  40  of our actuating assembly  300  has a handle  301  and a drive pin  41  opposite the handle  301  that extends downward through parallel slot  31  into one of the pin slots  7  of tape  1 . Pivot pin  42  of locking lever  40  is offset towards handle  301  and extends upwards into the transverse slot  21  perpendicular to tape  1 . The lever  40  is rotated, pivoting around drive pin  41  and pivot pin  42 , as it is moved to its locked position. In this process, pivot pin  42  moves first to one end of transverse slot  21  (see,  FIG. 6A ) and then reverses direction and moves to the other end of transverse slot  21 . (See,  FIGS. 6B-6G .) Meanwhile, tape drive pin  41  is pushed along in the direction of movement of tape  1 . As  FIGS. 6B and 6C  make clear, transverse slot  21  must be at least equal to the distance between drive pin  41  and pivot pin  42 .  
         [0062]     This arrangement provides a low mechanical advantage and higher speed movement as the locking motion is commenced and a greatly increased mechanical advantage and slower speed movement as the locking pins  5  are driven home to pull a sash or door snuggly against its frame. The arrangement also aligns the drive pin  41  and the pivot pin  42  with the direction of movement of tape  1  when the sash is locked. In this position, it is not possible to pry into the edge of the window or door and push against locking pin(s)  5  or drive pin  41  and move tape  1  to an unlocked position.  
         [0063]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A, 7B , and  7 C, our unique actuating assembly  300  can also be used by itself without tape  1  as part of a fenestration locking system. In this situation, the orientation of our actuating assembly  300  is reversed so that drive pin  41  projects outward. Drive pin  41  interfaces not with tape  1 , but directly with keeper  8 . As will be noted, the preferred embodiment illustrated also has two transverse slots  21 . This allows the use of locking levers  40  adapted to open in either direction by using the transverse slot  21  suited to that locking lever  40 . Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 7D , an actuating assembly  300  assembled in the usual manner could be used to drive the type of rigid lock bar  10  typical in sash locking assemblies used with a swinging sash. In this circumstance, it could advantageously be mounted at the side of an enclosure between locking pin assemblies  100 ,  200 .  
         [0064]     In the embodiments of our invention illustrated in  FIGS. 8A through 10B , the actuating assembly (not shown) is mounted on a swinging sash or door mounted in a fenestration opening. The keeper (not shown) would be incorporated into the frame for the swinging sash or door. Modified tape  1 A can extend to as many locking pin assembly locations around the perimeter of a swinging sash or door as desired. However, as was the case with the prior embodiments described, a swinging sash or door will usually require only the installation of an upper locking pin assembly (not shown) and a lower locking pin assembly (not shown) in order to ensure that the sash or door is securely fastened when closed.  
         [0065]     Modified tape  1 A of these embodiments is seated in a groove  400  in the edge of a door/sash  401 . It extends around the corner of door/sash  401  and is held in place in the curved portion of groove  400  extending around the corner of door/sash  401  via a corner guide/cover  402 . In general, however, modified tape  1 A is held in place by cover strips  403 . Cover strips  403  and modified tape  1 A have specialized features to enable them to perform as required in this embodiment. First, the structure and positioning of cover strips  403  requires the use of fastening means positioned in a way that could, potentially, interfere with the function of modified tape  1 A. The centrally positioned screw holes  403 A of cover strips  403  require the placement of tape slots  1 B in modified tape  1 A in order to allow modified tape  1 A to slide back and forth around screws fastening cover strips  403  to a door/sash  401  via screw holes  403 A. Second, cover strips  403  serve the same general function as the guides  6  of the first embodiment. Thus, they must also be provided with slide slots  6 A to allow pins  5  to be moved up and down by modified tape  1 A. The keeper (not shown) for this embodiment will typically be incorporated into the frame for the fenestration opening with a gap in the frame allowing the locking pin  5  to be released and the sash or door to be unlocked.  
         [0066]      FIGS. 8B and 9B  also illustrate a variation of our invention having an enlarged wedge-shaped locking pin head  5 C and an enlarged square coaxial motion transmitting pin  5 D. (Wedge-shaped heads provide a mechanical advantage to the user when the head and the keeper are not completely aligned.) Square motion transmitting pin  5 D fits into a square slot  7 B in modified tape  1 A. In this embodiment, pin  5  is fitted to slide slot  6 A and is narrower than square motion transmitting pin  5 D. (Thus, square motion transmitting pin  5 D instead of a collar  5 A serves to maintain the position of pin  5  under cover strip  403 .)  
         [0067]     In addition,  FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate two variations of cover strip  403 . In the variation illustrated in  FIG. 10A , modified tape  1 A rests in a slot under cover strip  403  created by “L”-shaped extensions  404 . This variation is suitable for placement in existing grooves  400  that may be too large to easily serve the purposes of this invention. Another variation is illustrated in  FIG. 10B . In this variation, cover strip  403  is formed for placement over a groove  400  that is more closely tailored for the purposes of this invention; thus, extensions  404  are unnecessary.  
         [0068]     Other possible variations in our invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 11A through 17D .  FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate an embodiment with a pin  5  having a more elongate wedge-shaped head  5 D and a rectangular collar  5 A, while  FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate an embodiment having a hook-shaped head  5 E with two tabs  50  by which head  5 E interacts with tape  1 . As the “pin” (hook-shaped head  5 E) for this embodiment is shaped like a “keeper”, the keepers for this embodiment can advantageously be pin-or wedge-shaped. This embodiment uses a side screw guide  51  that can be pressed down onto and fastened directly above the hook-shaped head  5 E so as to hold hook-shaped head  5 E in position. The embodiment illustrated uses screws that are placed into screw holes  52  that penetrate the side of a frame or structure on which this embodiment is mounted rather than being placed through or along side of tape  1 .  
         [0069]      FIGS. 13A through 17D  focus on additional possible variations in the design, construction, and placement of our actuating assembly  300 . In all of these figures a two-part locking lever  40  with a separable snap-in handle  301 A for use with actuating assembly  300  is illustrated. This option allows for an easily  10  removed handle for both painting and changing colors of the hardware. In order to make this possible without having an excessive number of component parts, it is preferable to form handle  301 A with an extension  301 B formed from a rigid material. (See, e.g.,  FIGS. 13A through 13C ). Likewise, receiver  301 C for extension  301 B can be formed from a material and in a configuration that allows it to flex to receive handle  301 A. Thus, receiver  301 C is formed from plastic materials in a basic U-shaped configuration where the two arms of the “U” flex apart to receive rigid metal extension  301 B. As will be observed, all of these parts are basically planar and lie in a lever arm plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by drive member slot  31 . To better hold lever  40  and handle  301 A  20  together under operational forces, a tongue-in-groove connection is provided along the generally U-shaped interface between these two parts with the tongue  301 E forming part of the receiver  301 C and the groove  301 F forming part of extension  301 B. In addition, it was found necessary (once again in order to maintain handle  301 A in connection with receiver  301 C under operational forces) to provide a plurality of snap connections  301 D between receiver  301 C and extension  301 B.  
         [0070]      FIGS. 13A through 17D  also illustrate a configuration for our actuating assembly  300  where both slots (transverse slot  21  and parallel slot  31 ) and both pins (drive pin  41  and pivot pin  42 ) are located on the same side of locking lever  40 . In this configuration, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , pivot pin  42  and transverse slot  21  are generally wider than drive pin  41  and parallel slot  31 . This assures that pivot pin  42  does not enter parallel slot  31  and that all elements perform their proper function despite the fact that transverse slot  21  and parallel slot  31  intersect as well as overlap. This configuration also helps to balance the forces at work when the actuating assembly  300  is operated. With pivot pin  42  and drive pin  41  on the same side of the handle, the forces acting on pivot pin  42  and drive pin  41  align. When these forces are not aligned, a moment is created which acts on the handle  301  causing it to rotate, adding friction. This translates into additional force when activating handle  301 .  
         [0071]      FIGS. 16A and 16B  provide perspective views of an actuating assembly intended for insertion into a rout  500  in a sash, door or frame. As will be noted, actuating assembly  300  is adapted to slide along an insertion axis  501  into the rout  500  via an actuator rout opening  502 , which rout  500  and actuator rout opening  502  are in one of a fenestration frame and a door or sash mounted in that frame. (Insertion axis  501  is generally parallel to planes in which lever arm  40  rotates and, likewise, in which transverse slot  21  and parallel slot  31  are located.) A retention member  350  forms part of actuating assembly  300 . Retention member  350  is also adapted to slide along insertion axis  501  into rout  500  via the actuator rout opening  502 . However, in addition to this, retention member  350  is adapted for movement transverse to the insertion axis whereby it can contact an interior side  503  of rout  500 . A tightening member (screw  504 ) is used to move retention member  350  transverse to insertion axis  501  so that it contacts and presses against side  503  and thereby resists removal of the actuating assembly  300  from rout  500 . An opposing gripping portion  351  is located opposite retention member  350  such that transverse movement of retention member  350  also forces opposing gripping portion  351  against an opposing side of rout  500  so as to further resist removal of actuating assembly  300  from rout  500 .  
         [0072]     In the preferred embodiments illustrated, retention member  350  is elongate with a first end  350 A by which it is connected to actuating assembly  300  and a contact end  350 B which contacts interior side  503 . Preferably, retention member  350  is molded and formed as an integral portion of actuating assembly  300 . Further, it should be noted that this system is completely different than current systems, which use overhanging flanges with screws fastening directly into the fenestration frame. Instead of using an overhanging flange with a screw boring into the fenestration frame outside of the borders of rout  500 , our tightening system is arranged so that screw  504 , its interface (screw head  504 A), retention member  350  and gripping portion  351  are all located within the boundary defined by rout  500  and actuator rout opening  502 .  
         [0073]     As will also be noted, rout  500  penetrates completely through the fenestration frame  4  (or door/sash mounted in that frame) so that there is a handle rout opening opposite actuator rout opening  502 . Handle  301 A extends through the handle rout opening. Thus, while actuating assembly  300  is mounted in rout  500  by sliding it into actuator rout opening  502 , handle  301 A will typically be attached to receiver  301 C of lever arm  40  by inserting it through a slotted escutcheon  600  (with snap connectors  601 A for connecting it to actuating assembly  300 ) that serves to cover the handle rout opening.  
         [0074]     Finally,  FIGS. 17A through 17D  provide perspective views of an embodiment of our invention installed in a French casement window. In a French casement window, sashes  401 A,  401 B may need to be fastened to each other as well as to the frame  4  for the window. Thus, a situation is illustrated where an actuating assembly  300 A mounted to frame  4  has an extended drive pin  41  that interfaces with a connector  700  attached to a tape (not shown) in tape mounted window sash  401 A. In this situation, the tape is provided with locking pins (not shown) that interact with keepers  8  located on the window frame  4  and an opposing sash  401 B to hold the two window sashes in a closed and locked position as illustrated in  FIGS. 17C and 17D .  
         [0075]     The foregoing variations and embodiments should not, however, be seen as exhaustive. The inventive concepts underlying our invention can give rise to numerous variations without exceeding the scope of our invention as better defined by the claims that follow.

Technology Category: y