The present invention relates to improvements in locks and tilt latches for slidable sash windows (or doors), and more particularly to improvements to an integral sash lock/tilt latch combination that is capable of providing better resistance to wind loading for improved pressure ratings.
Single hung and double hung sliding sash windows are commonly used today in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Sash locks are typically mounted to the meeting rail of the bottom sash window to lock the sash or sashes, by preventing the lower sash (or both the lower and upper sashes for a double hung window), from being opened through sliding movement relative to the master window frame. Also, in order to assist in the cleaning of the exterior of the glazing of the sash window, it may be constructed differently. Rather than the sash window frame itself being slidable within the master window frame, a lower pivotal member on the sash window may slide therein, and a pair of tilt latch devices mounted on an upper part of the window frame may also slide in the track of the master window frame. The tilt latches may be actuated to be withdrawn from the track to permit tilting of the sash window about the lower pivotal member into the room.
However, this arrangement relies solely upon the tilt latch at the top of the sliding sash window and the pivotal attachment at the bottom of the sash member to provide the structural integrity needed to resist high wind loads, since the sash frame itself is not nested within the track of the master window frame. Because of the annual threat of extreme weather at the eastern coastal areas of the U.S., particularly from hurricanes but also from macro-scale storms (a Nor'easter) that can generate hurricane force winds, these areas often mandate that the windows installed today be constructed according to very high standards. These standards may require the window to be able to structurally withstand, for a set period of time, a specified design pressure, which would permit the window to maintain its integrity throughout the sustained winds of a category five hurricane. Under such loading, it is not uncommon to see a window convex significantly, but when properly designed, the window will regain its original form. This significant deformation under such high wind loads creates a serious problem for the window hardware, particularly the tilt latch, as the latch member merely being biased into the master window frame track does not serve to resist bending. The deformation thus permitted from high wind loads may result in moisture and debris entering the interior of the dwelling through any gaps resulting from the deformation.
Another issue with respect to the design of windows for extreme weather concerns impact loading. An impact resistant sash window may include an impact-resistant glazing housed in a frame that may be securely fastened to the master window frame. The impact resistant glazing may be made of two sheets of glass laminated together, with a shatter-proof membrane between the sheets. If the exterior of the glazing is impacted by debris carried by high speed winds, the outer sheet of glass may shatter, but the inner sheet of glass is protected by the membrane, which may also serve to retain the shattered outer glass fragments in the frame. The inner sheet of glass still prevents the wind and moisture from reaching the interior of the dwelling. However, the tilt latch being unable to resist deformation may nonetheless allows debris and moisture to enter the residence through gaps resulting from such deformation, irrespective of the integrity of the impact-resistant glazing being maintained.
The present invention seeks to provide improvements to the window latch hardware in the form of an integrated sash lock and tilt latch fastener for single hung or double hung windows, which provides better resistance to wind loading and impact loading, for improved window pressure ratings.
It is an object of the invention to provide a sash lock to prevent relative sliding movement of one or both sliding sash windows that are slidable within a master window frame.
It is another object of the invention to provide a tilt latch to permit pivoting of a sliding sash window inwardly into the room in which the window is installed.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a combination sash lock and tilt latch that act cooperatively through the use of a single handle member.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a Hit latch device that may be blindly coupled to a sash lock for cooperative interaction and actuation therefrom.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a tilt latch that may better support the sash window frame to resist deformation.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a tilt latch that may be permit the sash window to resist impact loading.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing figures.
An integral sash locking and tilt latching fastener for a sliding sash window may include a lock assembly that may be interconnected with a latch assembly.
The lock assembly may be mounted to the top of the meeting rail of the sash window. The lock assembly may include a housing and a cam pivotally mounted within the housing. The cam may be configured to pivot for a portion thereof to protrude out from a cavity in the housing to releasably engage a keeper secured to the master window frame (or secured to a second sliding sash window) in a “locking” position, to lock the sash window (or windows) and prevent both sliding and tilting. The cam may have a graspable hub portion that may protrude upwardly, out from an orifice in the sash lock housing, to permit actuation of the device through rotation of the cam by a user. Alternatively, the device may have a separate handle member secured to the cam, where the handle may provide greater leverage to facilitate easy rotation and counter-rotation of the cam. The lock assembly may also include a lever arm that may be pivotally mounted within the lock housing, and which may be configured for a portion thereof to extend beyond the surface of the housing that is used for mounting of the lock, and into the hollow of the meeting rail of the sash window, when mounted thereon.
The latch assembly may be received through an opening on a side of the sash member. The latch assembly may include a housing, biasing means, and a latch member slidably disposed within the housing. An opening in the latch member is configured to receive the lever arm of the lock assembly, when positioned within the hollow meeting rail, for coupling of motion therebetween. The latch housing, latch member, and biasing means are configured for the biasing means to normally bias the latch member, so that a portion of one end (i.e., a portion of its “tongue”) may protrude out from the housing, and out of the side of the sash window frame, when mounted therein.
With the cam rotated into the “locking” position, to prevent sliding of the sash window through engagement of the cam with the keeper, the latch member may also then be in its fully extended position, in which it may be engaged within a track of the master window frame, which engagement may normally serve to prevent tilting of the sash window.
When the cam is actuated to rotate (e.g., 135 degrees), it may move from the extended locking position into a first retracted unlock position—a position where the cam is disengaged from the keeper on the master window frame, and would no longer prevent the sash window from sliding. Rotation of the cam into the first retracted unlock position may cause a portion thereof to be move into proximity to a follower portion of the lever arm, without actuating it, so that the latch member may remain engaged within the track of the master window frame to prevent tilting of the sash window.
When actuation of the shaft/handle member causes the cam to rotate further (e.g., another 45 degrees), it may move the cam from the first retracted unlock position into a second retracted unlock position. Rotation of the cam into the second retracted unlock position may cause the portion thereof being in proximity to the follower portion of the lever arm to contact and actuate the arm, and thereby drive the lever arm to also rotate. The rotational motion of the lever arm may act to oppose the biasing of the latch member, through the interconnection therebetween, to drive the tongue of the latch member to translate and retract into the latch housing, and become disengaged from the track of the master window frame. With the tongue of the latch member withdrawn from the track of the master window frame, the sash window may be tilted into the room.
The cam may be releasably secured in the extended locking position using a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism may also releasably secure the cam at the first retracted cam position, thereby also releasably securing the latch member at the first retracted unlock position, due to the interconnection therebetween. The detent mechanism may also releasably secure the cam at the second retracted unlock position. However, although the detent mechanism may be configured so that it provides a tactile indication to the user as to when the shaft/handle member reaches those positions, the spring of the latch assembly may nonetheless provide a biasing force large enough to overcome the anti-rotation-resisting force provided by the detent mechanism, when the cam is in the second retracted unlock position. Therefore, after the user moves the handle for the cam to reach the second retracted unlock position and thereafter releases the handle, the latch spring may bias the latch member into its extended position, to protrude into the track of the master window frame to again prevent tilting, which may drive the lever arm because of the interconnection therebetween. The lever arm and cam may thus be driven to return to the first retracted unlock position.
Both a left-hand and right-hand version of the above described integral sash locking and tilt latching fastener may be mounted on a sliding sash window, to provide improved impact resistance. Alternatively, only the left-hand or the right hand arrangement may be used to secure the window. The following discussion proceeds with a discussion of one version of the fastener (e.g., the left-hand fastener), with the understanding that a mirror image version may also be formed and used on the window. Also note that the left-hand and right-hand latch arrangements disclosed herein may alternatively be driven by a single sash lock, which may be configured as disclosed in concurrently filed application Ser. No. 14/______,_______, filed on ______-_______-2015, having the title, “Integrated Sash Lock and Tilt Latch Combination Using One Lock for Two Tilt Latches,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The left-hand integrated sash lock/tilt latch fastener, as seen in
As seen in the exploded view of
Perspective views of the housing 10 used for the sash lock assembly 100 are shown in
The housing 10 may be generally hollow with the interior surface 14 of wall 12 and the respective interior surfaces of wall portions 12Si, 12Sii, 12R, and 12F forming a cavity. Certain features may protrude into the interior cavity of the housing, including a wall 34 that may be generally parallel to, but offset a distance D away from wall portion 12F. The distance D between wall portion 12F and wall 34 may be sufficient for the housing 10 to overhang a keeper on the master window frame, and receive a portion of the keeper between those walls and beneath the bottom surface 14. The wall portion 12F and the wall 34 may have a respective opening 12FP and 34P formed therein. The opening 12FP in the wall portion 12F may permit a portion of cam 50 to protrude out from the housing in the extending locking position, to engage the keeper therein, and which may be shrouded by the top wall 12.
Extending outwardly from the interior surface 14 of the housing 10 may be at least one hollow cylindrical protrusion that may be used to secure the sash lock assembly 100 to the sash window 400. In one embodiment of the housing 10, two hollow cylindrical protrusions 15 and 16 may be used, and each may be configured to respectively receive a screw for mounting of the sash lock assembly 100 to the sash window 400.
Extending from the interior surface 14 of the housing 10 into the cavity may be a shaft 25, which may be used for pivotal mounting of the lever arm 70 within the housing cavity.
The housing 10 may have a cylindrical boss 18 extending upwardly from the outer surface 13, and may also have a cylindrical boss 19 extending downwardly from the interior surface 14, into the housing cavity. Cylindrical boss 18 and boss 19 may have a through-hole 20. The hole 20 may be used for pivotal mounting of a shaft that may extend from a locking cam 50, or alternatively, the hole 20 may be used for pivotal mounting of a separate shaft/handle member 40, to which the locking cam may instead be fixedly secured.
The housing 10 may also have curved walls 17A and 17B that may protrude from the boss 19 further into the cavity, and which may provide support for the cam 50. Also, additional walls 33A, 33B, 33C, and 33D may protrude into the housing cavity, which may permit fixedly supporting of a first and second leaf spring 90/90′ (
As seen in
The locking cam 50 is illustrated in
The curved cam wall 56 may have a protrusion 56P protruding laterally therefrom, which may be a cylindrically shaped protrusion or a part-cylinder. The axis of the cylindrically shaped protrusion 56P may be substantially parallel to the axis of the keyed opening 54.
Protruding away from the hub 53 may be a cylindrical member 57, which may be generally concentric with the hub, and through which the keyed opening 54 may also extend. The cylindrical member 57 may have a first flat 58A formed thereon, and a second flat 58B formed thereon to be clocked 180 degrees away from the first flat 58A. The flats 58A and 58B may co-act with a pair of identical leaf springs 90 and 90′ (
The cylindrical member 57A may also have a third flat 59A formed thereon, as seen in
Interaction between the sash lock assembly 100 and the latch assembly 200, once installed with respect to the sliding sash window 400, may be through the use of the lever arm 70, which may be pivotally mounted within the housing 10.
The lever arm 70 is shown in detail within
As noted above, the component parts used for sash lock assembly 100 are shown in the exploded view of
The cylindrical shaft 43 of the shaft/handle member 40 may then be pivotally received in hole 20 of housing 10. The locking cam 50 may be joined to the shaft/handle member 40, with the keyed protrusion 44 of the shaft member 40 being received within the keyed opening 54 of locking cam 50, and being secured thereat using a friction fit, adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or by being welded thereto, or by using any combination of such suitable means of securing two parts together. Note that additional pivotal support for the cam 50 may be provided by the curved housing walls 17A and 17B pivotally receiving the hub 53 (or cylindrical portion 57) of the cam therebetween.
Next, the hole 74 of the hub 73 of the lever arm 70 may be pivotally received upon the shaft 25 of the housing. To pivotally secure the lever arm 70 thereto, the end of the shaft 25 may be bucked like a rivet, to form a manufactured head to prevent the lever arm from slipping off of the post. Alternatively, a screw or other mechanical fastener or component part may be used maintain the pivotal mounting of the hub 73 of the lever arm 70 upon the shaft 25 of the housing 10.
The assembled lock 100 is shown in
The latch assembly 200 may include a latch housing 210, shown in
Perspective views of the latch member 250 are shown in
The beam 255 may transition and widen to form peripheral walls about an opening 275A, the size of which may depend upon the cross-sectional shape of the post 76 of lever arm 70 of the lock assembly 100, to provide for engagement of the post 76 with the latch member, to couple motion therebetween. The opening 275A may be an elongated shape, which may, for example, be generally rectangular-shaped, as shown in
Extending away from the far end of the peripheral walls formed about opening 275A may be a secondary beam 255A that may be formed substantially the same as beam 255, and the distal end of which may similarly widen to form peripheral walls about an opening 275B that may be constructed the same as opening 275A. Proximate to the connection of the beam 255A with the peripheral walls about opening 275A may be a first notch 255N1 on a first side of the beam and a second notch 255N1 on a second side of the beam, to produce an area that may be weakened with respect to a direction being normal to the axis 255X of the beam. The weakened area may be used to sever most of the secondary beam 255A from the peripheral walls associated with beam 255, where it may be necessary to use the first opening 275A for receiving the post 76 of the lever arm 70 of the sash lock 100, for installation of the latch assembly within a sash window frame of a particular size. A third beam 255B with peripheral walls about an opening 275C may be similarly formed. An additional pair of notches 255BN1 and 255BN2 may be formed to permit severing of most of the beam 255B.
Biasing of the latch member 250 relative to the housing 210 may be through the use of a suitably arranged tension spring, or by using a compression spring. For the sake of brevity, the figures herein only depict an embodiment where a compression spring is utilized. The helical compression spring 291 (
The latch assembly 200 may thus be configured to interact with the fitting assembly 300 that is shown in
The housing 310 of fitting assembly 300 may be formed to have a bottom wall 313, and a rear wall 314. The bottom wall 313 may have an opening 313P formed therein that may accommodate the cross-sectional shape used for the post member 350, so that the post may be mounted therein. The rear wall 314 may have a hole 314H, which may include a countersunk opening 314C to accommodate a flush-head mounting screw, which may be used for mounting of the fitting assembly 300 into the track of the master window frame 500. Since the track of the master window frame may be fairly narrow, and for other design reasons, a mounting fastener for the fitting assembly 300 may desirably be only used through the rear wall 314. Therefore, the housing 310 may be desirably formed as a bathtub fitting, with an extra thick bottom wall 313, and thick side walls 315 and 316. A flexible tab 317 protruding from the second side wall 316 may be used to optimally position the fitting assembly 300 within the track of the master window frame 50.
The post member 350 is shown in
The fitting assembly 300 may be installed into the track 501 of the master window frame 500, as seen in
The latch assembly may be size adjusted (i.e., removal of unnecessary beam section 255B or beam portions 255A and 255B), based upon proper positioning of the sash lock on the meeting rail, and the appropriate opening that may be formed therein. The suitable opening (e.g., 275A, 275B, or 275C) on the latch member 250 may be coordinated with and properly positioned for horizontal alignment below the sash lock assembly 100 when mounted upon the meeting rail 401 of the window frame 400 (see
For the installation of the sash lock assembly 100 upon the meeting rail 401 of the sash window frame 400, after the post 76 of the lever arm 70 of the sash lock is passed through a suitable opening in the top of the meeting rail, the post must be received within the elongated opening 275B of the latch member 250 of the latch assembly 200. However, because of the elongated cross-sectional shape of the post 76 and the protrusion 77 protruding laterally therefrom (see
After insertion of the post 76 through the opening 275B of the latch member 250, the latch assembly 100 may then be rotated roughly 90 degrees, and then be lowered for the flat bottom surface of the sash lock housing 10 to contact and be flush with the top of the meeting rail, and be fastened thereto to using fasteners through the hollow cylindrical protrusions 15 and 16 of the housing 10. The 90 degree rotation of the sash lock assembly 100 after inserting the post 76 of the lever arm 70 through the opening 275B of the latch member 250 may thus orient the long transverse direction of the cross-section of the post to be parallel to the axial direction 301AX of the meeting rail 301A, so that it may be generally in-line with the shorter width direction 275W of the rectangular opening 275A in the latch member 250.
The width 275W of the rectangular opening 275A in the latch member 250 may be just slightly larger than the long transverse direction of the cross-section of the post 76 of lever arm 70 positioned therein (i.e., a slight clearance fit, as shown in the enlarged view of
With the sash lock assembly 100 and latch assembly 200 installed with respect to the sash window 400 as described, the shaft/handle member 40 of the lock assembly may be actuated to three different positions, as seen in
With the sash window 400 being in a closed position (
With the sash window 400 being in that closed position and with the latch member 250 also biased into its extended position (
Alternatively, as shown in the enlarged view of
The shaft/handle member 40 may be rotated 135 degrees for the cam 50 to move from the extended locking position shown in
If the user desires to tilt the sash window 400 into the room, the user may rotate the shaft/handle member 40 an additional 45 degrees for the cam 50 to move from the first retracted unlock position shown in
When the user desires to tilt the sash window 400 back into the master window frame 500, the shaft/handle member 40 may again be rotated 45 degrees, so that the tongue may again be retracted into the latch housing 210. When the sash window 400 is positioned back in the master window frame 500, the shaft/handle 40 may be released, so that the tongue 253 may again be biased back into the track. The sash window 400 may then be closed, and the shaft/handle member 40 may be counter-rotated 135 degrees to lock the cam 50 with respect to the keeper 550 on the master window frame 500.
It should be noted that angular rotation amount other than 135 degrees is also possible, as long as the rotational movement from the extended locking position is sufficient to move the locking cam 50 far enough away from the keeper 550 to permit sliding movement of the sash window 400, and although it may be desirable, the cam need not even be fully retracted within the housing 10 when in the first retracted unlock position. Therefore, the herein described 135 degree and 45 degree rotational amounts are merely exemplary, and the fastener may be constructed so that other rotational amounts may alternatively be used to reach those key positions.
The examples and descriptions provided merely illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope of the present invention. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of this invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/566,908, filed on Dec. 11, 2014, having the title “Integrated Sash Lock and Tilt Latch Combination with Improved Wind-Force-Resistance Capability,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/278,226, filed on May 15, 2014, having the title “Integrated Sash Lock and Tilt Latch Combination with Improved Interconnection Capability Therebetween.” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/198,986, filed on Mar. 6, 2014, having the title “Integrated Sash Lock and Tilt Latch with Screwless Installation and Removal from Meeting Rail,” with the disclosures of each being incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 14566908 | Dec 2014 | US |
Child | 14879436 | US | |
Parent | 14278226 | May 2014 | US |
Child | 14566908 | US | |
Parent | 14198986 | Mar 2014 | US |
Child | 14278226 | US |