1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to snap locks in general and, more specifically, to a positive action fenestration lock, i.e. adaptable to be attached to a moving window profile and to interact, by sliding, with a fixed window profile.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The particular class of latches to which the present invention pertains uses latching plates with latching shoulders, between which a land to provide an abutment is formed. The latching shoulders are inclined with respect to a vertical surface of a widow frame. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,501 dated May 11, 1999 and granted to Fountaine for a “Window Fastener” describes a lock for use with a sliding sash window. The lock has a body with a handle mounted with the body for pivotal movement about a pivot axle. A latch tongue is operatively coupled to the handle and a latch tongue is provided with a latching surface for contacting an end of the latch tongue. The latching surface is spaced from the pivot axle in the direction in which a sash of a window is movable from a closed position elative to the frame of the window. The handle is movable about the pivot axle to move the end of the latch tongue away from its latching contact of the latching surface of the latch plate. Thus, the window sash can be moved from the closed position. Fountain's “Window Fastener” has several important shortcomings. First, the latching tongues are moveable independent of each other and of the handle. Second, there is a limited pivot movement of the tongues by the handle. Third, sliding action is not rectilinear.
Based on the analysis of the prior art, there is a need for a positive action fenestration lock which eliminate or, at least, alleviate the foregoing shortcomings.
A first objective of the present invention is to provide a simple and reliable positive action fenestration lock.
A second objective of the present invention is to provide a positive action fenestration lock with a rectilinear movement of the latching element.
A third objective of the present invention is to develop a positive action fenestration lock provided with security means.
A forth objective of the present invention is to provide a positive action fenestration lock with extended service life.
A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide a positive action fenestration lock that satisfies the demands of technical aesthetics.
Broadly stating, according to the present invention, a positive action fenestration lock, i.e. adaptable to be attached to a moving window profile and to interact, by sliding, with a fixed window profile, said positive action fenestration lock comprises
In one aspect of the present invention, the hollow body includes a front wall, a pair of lateral walls, generally perpendicular to the front wall, and an upper inclined wall extending into the front wall and the pair of lateral walls. Opposite to the front wall, a pair of spaced blocks, having a rectangular cross-section, extends inwardly from and perpendicularly on the upper inclined wall. The pair of spaced blocks has a height similar to a height of the pair of lateral walls, minus a thickness of the base plate compounded with a thickness of an adjacent part of the bolt-wedge. Between the pair of spaced blocks, a central block, having a cylindrical blind hole and a height relatively shorter than the height of the pair of spaced blocks, is provided. Adjacent to each one of the pair of lateral walls and opposite to the front wall, i.e. in each corner formed between each one of the pair of lateral walls and the upper inclined wall, a double sleeve projecting from the upper inclined wall is joined to a proximate one of the pair of lateral walls. Each double sleeve incorporates a through hole and a dead hole contiguous to the latter, the former and the latter being perpendicular to the base plate. A sleeve, extending from the front wall and from the upper inclined wall, is also provided. Thus, a pair of sleeves, equally spaced from the midway between the pair of lateral walls is formed. Each sleeve incorporates a dead hole equivalent to the dead hole. A height of the double sleeves and the sleeves is shorter than a height of the front wall and the pair of lateral walls. The foregoing difference in height is equal to a thickness of the base plate that is inserted into the hollow body. The upper inclined wall incorporates a window generally sized to enable a passage of the button. The base plate includes a pair of lugs struck from and perpendicularly disposed on it. The pair of lugs is so positioned as to partly flank the pair of spaced blocks. A pair of axles extends perpendicularly from the pair of lugs and is parallel to the base plate. The base plate has a length commensurate with an internal distance between the pair of lateral walls and a width commensurate with an internal distance measured between the front wall and outward ends of the pair of spaced blocks. The base plate further comprises a rectangular cut-off centrally situated under the central block and so dimensioned as to allow a movement of the actuator. An elongated cut-off intended for a location of the button, respectively a lower end portion of it, is disposed oppositely to the rectangular cut-off. The base plate incorporates as well several apertures that correspond in size and coincide with the through and dead holes.
The bolt-wedge includes generally a flat base of rectangular shape, defined by longitudinal and transversal axes, while a slanted wall protruding, proximately to the longitudinal axis, from the flat base is directed towards the front wall of the hollow body. The slanted wall is equally divided by a skewed slot that coincides with the transversal axis. A first end of said flat base, partly situated beneath the slanted wall is slope-shaped. A second end, opposite to the first end is provided with a first rectangular-shaped recess, the latter having such a width that allows a free passage of the actuator, respectively a widest portion of it. A movement of the actuator is directed perpendicularly to the flat base, in opposite directions. The first rectangular-shaped recess is followed inwardly by a pair of opposite protrusions extending towards the transversal axis. Behind the pair of opposite protrusions, a second rectangular-shaped recess, having a width somewhat larger than a width of the first rectangular-shaped recess and extend in the second rectangular-shaped recess, is provided. A third rectangular-shaped recess extending up to the slanted wall and having a width commensurate with a distance between the pair of opposite protrusions and communicating with the second rectangular-shaped recess is provided. The latter communicates with the first rectangular-shaped recess. The flat base incorporates a depressed zone having a hollowness that starts from a bottom of the former. The depressed zone extends longitudinally and transversally outside the third rectangular-shaped recess and has a width commensurate with the second rectangular-shaped recess. The depressed zone terminates with a rounded shoulder directed towards the pair of opposite protrusions. The button comprises a curve-shaped structure having at its lateral extremities a pair of projecting arms extending perpendicularly from a bottom surface of the former, i.e. inwardly at 90° with respect to the foregoing curve-shaped structure. The pair of projecting arms is provided at its ends with a pair of engaging holes for fitting with the pair of axles. A lever, ending with a divided-in-two axle perpendicularly to it, projects from the bottom surface, midway between the pair of projecting arms. A pair of bushes is mounted on the divided-in-two axle. The bolt-wedge is able to slide on the base plate, while the pair of restoring torsion springs acts against the pair of projecting arms, from beneath them. In a first case, when pressing the button, the divided-in-two axle, via the pair of bushes acts on the slanted wall; in a second case, when closing the moving window profile, the divided-in-two axle, via the pair of bushes acts on the first end of the flat base. The actuator includes a parallelepiped-shaped bloc provided with a pair of cylindrical elements extending centrally and in opposite directions from an upper and lower face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc. A pair of posts flanks the parallelepiped-shaped bloc, respectively its lateral faces. Each of the pair of posts has a rectangular cross-section and is forwardly coplanar with a front face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc. The latter is provided with a pair of fastening apertures. An external distance between the pair of posts corresponds to a width of the first rectangular-shaped recess and to the rectangular cut-off. The flat spring comprises a front plate corresponding in size to a front face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc and has a pair of through apertures coinciding with the pair of fastening apertures. A pair of branches, extending from the front plate, forms an inclination somewhat less than 90° between the former and the latter. Thus, when the front plate is assembled to the front face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc, the pair of branches is upwardly biased. Each one of the pair of branches terminates with a lateral arm that extends outwardly and is curved downwardly. A pair of fasteners is used to attach the front plate to the front face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc. The pair of restoring torsion springs is assembled on the pair of axles of the base plate, each one of the pair of restoring torsion springs having one end tensioned against one of the pair of projecting arms, while another end is tensioned against the base plate The helical compression spring is mounted around one of the pair of cylindrical elements that extends centrally from the upper face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc, so that, together the helical compression springs and one of the pair of cylindrical elements that extends centrally from the upper face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc are disposed into the cylindrical blind hole of the central block. Thus, the helical compression spring acts permanently on the upper face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc.
Although the characteristic features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and the manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which:
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9″, a positive action fenestration lock 100, according to the present invention, is adaptable to be attached to a moving window profile 200 and to interact, by sliding, with a fixed window profile 300.
Basically, positive action fenestration lock 100 comprises
Describing now in detail, hollow body 400 includes a front wall 402, a pair of lateral walls 404, generally perpendicular to front wall 402, and an upper inclined wall 406 extending into front wall 402 and pair of lateral walls 404.
Opposite to front wall 402, a pair of spaced blocks 408, having a rectangular cross-section, extends inwardly from and perpendicularly on upper inclined wall 406. The pair of spaced blocks 408 has a height similar to a height of the pair of lateral walls 404, minus a thickness of base plate 500 compounded with a thickness of an adjacent part of a bolt-wedge 600. Between the pair of spaced blocks 408, there is a central block 410 provided with a cylindrical blind hole 412 and with a height relatively shorter than the height of the pair of spaced blocks 408.
Adjacent to each one of the pair of lateral walls 404 and opposite to front wall 402, i.e. in each corner formed between each one of the pair of lateral walls 404 and upper inclined wall 406, there is a double sleeve 414 that projects from upper inclined wall 406 and is joined to a proximate one of the pair of lateral walls 404. Each double sleeve 414 incorporates a through hole 416 and a dead hole 418, contiguous to the latter. The former and the latter are perpendicular to base plate 500. There is also a pair of sleeves 420 extending from front wall 402 and from upper inclined wall 406. The pair of sleeves 420 is equally spaced from the midway between the pair of lateral walls 404. Each sleeve 420 incorporates a dead hole 418′ equivalent to dead hole 418. A height of double sleeves 414 and sleeves 420 is shorter than a height of front wall 402 and the pair of lateral walls 404. The foregoing difference in height equals to a thickness of a base plate 500 that is inserted into hollow body 400.
Upper inclined wall 406 incorporates a window 422, generally sized to enable a passage of button 700.
Base plate 500 includes a pair of lugs 502 struck from and perpendicularly disposed on it (on the latter). The pair of lugs 502 is so positioned as to partly flank the pair of spaced blocks 408. A pair of axles 504 extends perpendicularly from the pair of lugs 502 and is parallel to base plate 500.
Base plate 500 has a length 506, commensurate with an internal distance between the pair of lateral walls 404, and a width 508 commensurate with an internal distance measured between front wall 402 and outward ends of the pair of spaced blocks 408.
Base plate 500 further comprises a rectangular cut-off 510 centrally situated under central block 410 and so dimensioned as to allow a movement of actuator 800. An elongated cut-off 512 intended for a location of button 700, respectively a lower end portion of it, is disposed oppositely to rectangular cut-off 510. Base plate 500 incorporates as well several apertures 514 and 516 that correspond in size and coincide with through and dead holes 416 and 418.
Bolt-wedge 600 includes generally a flat base 602 of rectangular shape, defined by longitudinal and transversal axes 604 and 606, respectively. A slanted wall 608 protrudes, proximately to the longitudinal axis 604, from flat base 602 and is directed towards front wall 402 of hollow body 400. Slanted wall 608 is equally divided by a skewed slot 610 that coincides with transversal axis 606. A first end 612 of flat base 602, which is partly situated beneath slanted wall 608, is slope-shaped. A second end 614, opposite to first end 612, is provided with a first rectangular-shaped recess 616. The latter has such a width that allows a free passage of actuator 800, respectively a widest portion of it. The movement of actuator 800 is directed perpendicularly to flat base 602, in opposite directions.
First rectangular-shaped recess 616 is followed inwardly by a pair of opposite protrusions 618 which extend towards transversal axis 606. Behind the pair of opposite protrusions 618, there is a second rectangular-shaped recess 620 provided with a width somewhat larger than the width of first rectangular-shaped recess 616 and extending over an area relatively smaller than first rectangular-shaped recess 616. Behind the second rectangular-shaped recess 620, there is a third rectangular-shaped recess 622, which extends up to slanted wall 608, has a width commensurate with a distance between the pair of opposite protrusions 618 and communicates with second rectangular-shaped recess 620. The latter communicates with first rectangular-shaped recess 616. Flat base 602 incorporates a depressed zone 624 having a hollowness that starts from a bottom of the former. Depressed zone 624 extends longitudinally and transversally outside third rectangular-shaped recess 622 and has a width commensurate with second rectangular-shaped recess 620. Depressed zone 624 terminates with a rounded shoulder 626 directed towards the pair of opposite protrusions 618.
Button 700 comprises a curve-shaped structure 702 having at its lateral extremities a pair of projecting arms 704. The later projects perpendicularly from a bottom surface 706 of the former, i.e. inwardly, aproximately at 90° with respect to the foregoing curve-shaped structure 702; the pair of projecting arms 704 is provided at its ends with a pair engaging holes 708 for fitting with the pair of axles 504.
A lever 710, ending with a divided-in-two axle 712 perpendicularly to it, projects from bottom surface 706, midway between the pair of projecting arms 704.
A pair of bushes 714 is mounted on divided-in-two axle 712.
Bolt-wedge 600 can slide on base plate 500, while the pair of restoring torsion springs 1000 acts against the pair of projecting arms 704, from beneath them. In a first case, when a user presses button 700, divided-in-two axle 712, via the pair of bushes 714 acts on slanted wall 608. In a second case, when a user closes moving window profile 200, divided-in-two axle 712, via the pair of bushes 714 acts on first end 612 of flat base 602.
Actuator 800 includes a parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802 provided with a pair of cylindrical elements 804 extending centrally and in opposite directions from an upper and lower face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802.
A pair of posts 806 flanks parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802, respectively the lateral faces of the latter. Each of the pair of posts 806 has a rectangular cross-section and is forwardly coplanar with a front face of parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802; the latter being provided with a pair of fastening apertures 808. An external distance between the pair of posts 806 corresponds to the width of first rectangular-shaped recess 616 and to rectangular cut-off 510.
Flat spring 900 comprises a front plate 902, corresponding in size to the front face of parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802, and has a pair of through apertures 904 coinciding with the pair of fastening apertures 808.
A pair of branches 906 extends from front plate 902, forming an inclination somewhat less than 90° between the former and the latter. Thus, when front plate 902 is assembled to the front face of parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802, the pair of branches 906 is upwardly biased.
Each one of the pair of branches 906 terminates with a lateral arm 908 that extends outwardly and is curved downwardly.
A pair of fasteners (not shown) is used to attach front plate 902 to the front face of parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802.
The pair of restoring torsion springs 1000 is assembled on the pair of axles 504 of base plate 500. Each restoring torsion spring of the pair of restoring torsion springs 1000 has one end tensioned against one of the pair of projecting arms 704, while another end is tensioned against base plate 500. As mentioned in the foregoing description, the pair of restoring torsion springs 1000 resist against a torque caused by a finger pressure on button 700.
Helical compression spring 1020 is mounted around one the pair of cylindrical elements 804 that extends centrally from the upper face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802. Together, helical compression spring 1020 and the one the pair of cylindrical elements 804, which extends centrally from the upper face of the parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802 are disposed into cylindrical blind hole 412 of central block 410. Thus, helical compression spring 1020 acts permanently on the upper face of parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802.
Operation
1) Window Closed and Locked (See FIGS. 7-7″)
Button 700 is articulated to base plate 500 and subjected to a permanent action by the pair of restoring springs 1000 operating against the pair of projecting arms 704, from their beneath. This causes divided-in-two axle 712, via its pair of bushes 714, to act on first end 612, which is is slope-shaped. In this situation, a front part of bolt-wedge 600 penetrates into fixed window profile 300, respectively into a groove 302 of it. The last operation can take place due to the fact that actuator 800, during the final closing of moving window profile 200, hits an interlock part 304 of fixed window profile 300. These results in an extra pressure on helical compression spring 1020 which allows actuator 800 to further penetrate into cylindrical blind hole 412 of central block 410, so that its parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802 will exit first rectangular-shaped recess 616. Thus, an advancement of flat base 602 of bolt-wedge 600 into groove 302 can freely occur. Flat spring 900, which is firmly secured to parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802, will have the lateral arms 908 of the pair of branches 906 located in depressed zone 624 of flat base 602, while the pair of branches 906 traverses first, second and third rectangular-shaped recesses 616, 620 and 622, respectively.
2) Window Closed and Unlocked (See FIGS. 8-8″)
Pushing down button 700 causes a retraction of bolt-wedge 600 from groove 302 of fixed window profile 300; lateral arms 908 of the pair of branches 906 snap into second rectangular-shaped recess 620. Now the window is unlocked, but still in a closed position. Therefore, unlocking and opening of a window, according to the present invention, constitute separate operations. When a user releases button 700, parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802 is out of contact with flat base 602 of bolt-wedge 600, due to the fact that actuator 800 is still immobile; and this is because of the action of interlock part 304.
3) Window Opened (See FIGS. 9-9″)
When a user pushes moving window profile 200 to separate from fixed window profile 300, a contact between actuator 800 and interlock part 304 of fixed window profile 300 ceases. As a result, helical compression spring 1020 acts, without being subjected to a supplementary pressure applied by interlock part 304 of fixed window profile 300, on the upper face of parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802. Thus, actuator 800, together with flat spring 900 firmly secured to parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802, is enabled to reach a fully extended position. Flat spring 900 having its pair of branches 906 and lateral arms 908 situated under a bottom surface of bolt-wedge 600 releases the latter. Simultaneously, parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802 of actuator 800 takes a position against the pair of opposite protrusions 618 of bolt-wedge 600, so that the latter cannot advance further. Now, moving window profile 200 is ready for a next operation: interacting with fixed window profile 300 for closing the window and triggering positive action fenestration lock 100 for locking the window.
It is obvious, that when moving window profile 200 is relocated in its closed position, actuator 800 collides with interlock part 304. This pushes the former back, until parallelepiped-shaped bloc 802 of actuator 800 looses the contact with opposite protrusions 618 of bolt-wedge 600. Thus, a locking of the window, due to an advancement of flat base 602 of bolt-wedge 600 into groove 302, can occur.
As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the foregoing description; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed therein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2,477,933 | Aug 2004 | CA | national |