The present invention relates to restricting devices, and in particular to releasable restricting devices that limit the opening and closing of a vent.
Windows often include a vent connected to a frame by a hinge. This arrangement enables the window to be opened widely. However, it is often desirable to be able to restrict the extent to which this type of window can be opened during normal use for reasons of safety and security. Any device for restricting the opening of a window during normal use must also allow the window to be opened fully when required, for example for cleaning or in the case of a fire.
Although a number of restricting devices have been suggested in the prior art, many of such devices are complicated to manufacture and difficult to use. In particular, many of the prior art restricting devices have to be incorporated when a vent is manufactured or hung, and cannot be added to restrict the movement of a vent that is already in place.
The present invention aims to provide a restricting device that is simple and easy to operate. The restricting device provided by the present invention is also detachable and can therefore be added to restrict the movement of vents that have already been hung.
The invention provides a restricting device for a closure including a vent hingedly connected to a frame, the restricting device being adapted to act between the vent and the frame and comprising a plate, an arm and means for releasably interengaging the arm and the plate, wherein, in use, when the plate and the arm are interengaged, the closure can only be opened a predetermined distance, the means for releasably interengaging the arm and the plate comprising a resilient means adapted to engage a locking pin, engagement between the arm and the plate being released by releasing the resilient means, the means for releasing the resilient means being separate from the rest of the device.
The resilient means may be mounted on the arm and adapted to engage a locking pin mounted on the plate. Alternatively, and more preferably, the resilient means is mounted on the plate and adapted to engage a locking pin mounted on the arm.
Preferably, the locking pin comprises a tapered head of increasing diameter leading to a neck portion of reduced diameter. Preferably, engagement between the locking pin and the resilient means occurs by forcing the tapered head of increasing diameter past the resilient means such that the resilient means engages with the neck portion of the locking pin, thereby securing the locking pin and hence the arm in place.
Preferably, the resilient means comprises a resilient strip, preferably a metal strip, having one or two legs. Preferably, the resilient means comprises a resilient strip having two legs such that engagement between the locking pin and the resilient means occurs by forcing the tapered head of increasing diameter between the two legs of the resilient strip so that the resilient strip engages with the neck portion of the locking pin.
Preferably, the restricting device further comprises means for mounting the resilient means on either the plate or the arm. Where the resilient means comprises a resilient strip having two legs, the means for mounting the strip of metal preferably comprises rivets which are adapted to hold the two legs of the strip in an operative position to allow engagement with the locking pin to occur. The means for mounting the resilient strip may further comprise a support plate to hold the resilient strip in place.
Where the resilient means is a resilient strip having two legs, the means for releasing the resilient means is preferably a key that can be used to force the legs of the resilient strip apart such that the locking pin can be released. Where the locking pin comprises a tapered head of increasing diameter leading to a neck portion of reduced diameter, the key can preferably be used to force the legs of the resilient strip apart such that the major diameter of the tapered head of the locking pin can pass between them. Preferably, the key is adapted to be able to pass between the two legs of the resilient strip when it is engaged with the neck portion of the locking pin but to force the two legs of the resilient strip apart when the key is rotated. Preferably, the key has an eccentric cross-section, more preferably the cross-section has a major axis that is substantially perpendicular to a minor axis. Most preferably, the key has a diamond-shaped cross-section.
Preferably, the device further comprises key rotation stop means which prevents rotation of the key beyond a position in which the two legs of the resilient strip are forced apart to a maximum extent. This prevents the key from being over-rotated beyond a position in which the locking pin is releasable from the resilient strip. Even more preferably, the key rotation stop means comprises a specially shaped portion of the key and a correspondingly specially shaped hole in the plate. Preferably, the specially shaped portion of the key is semi-circular in cross-section, and the specially shaped hole in the plate includes a v-shaped notch, whereby the key is able to be turned through 90° between a position in which the specially shaped portion of the key abuts a first edge of the v-shaped notch, and a position in which the specially shaped portion of the key abuts a second edge of the v-shaped notch.
The plate of the restricting device may be mounted on a vent with the arm of the restricting device being mounted on a frame. Alternatively, and preferably, the plate of the restricting device is mounted on a frame and the arm of the restricting device is mounted on a vent. Preferably, the arm of the restricting device is pivotally mounted on either of one of a frame or a vent. Preferably, the arm of the restricting device is pivotally mounted on a track mounted on one of either a frame or a vent. Preferably, the track is a C-section track. More preferably, the arm is pivotally mounted on a slider, possibly a friction slider, that is mounted in the track and adapted to slide along the track. The track preferably comprises stops to limit the extent to which the slider can slide along the track and to prevent the slider from sliding off either end of the track.
The restricting device of the invention may be adapted for use on any closure including doors and windows. Preferably, the restricting device is adapted for use on a window. The plate of a restricting device of the invention may include screw-boles to facilitate mounting the plate on a frame or a vent of the closure. Where the restricting device comprises a track, the track may also include screw-holes to facilitate attaching the track on a vent or a frame of the closure.
Other preferred features of the restricting device described above will become apparent from the description with reference to the drawings which follows herein.
The present invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The joggled link includes screw-holes 15 to facilitate the attachment of the joggled link to the frame. The spring 2 is located beneath the joggled link 1 and above a support plate 4. The spring comprises a resilient strip of metal having two legs. Rivets 3 hold the joggled link 1, spring 2 and support plate 4 together. The rivets 3 also hold the two legs of the resilient strip of metal in an operative position to enable engagement with a locking pin on the arm to occur.
The track 10 includes screw-holes 13 to facilitate attachment of the track to a vent. A slider 8 is engaged with the track 10 such that it can slide along it. The track 10 also includes crack stops 14 which limit the extent to which the slider 8 can slide along the track 10 and prevent the slider 8 from sliding out of the ends of the track 10.
The pivot arm 7 is pivotally connected to the slider 8 by means of a rivet 3 and a washer 9. The other end of the pivot arm 7 comprises the locking pin 5 having a tapered head 5b of increasing diameter leading to a neck portion 5a of reduced diameter. The joggled link 1 has a pivot hole 11 for receiving the locking pin 5 when the pivot arm 7 is engaged with the joggled link 1 and a keyway 12 for receiving the key 6 to enable the pivot arm 7 to be released from the joggled link 1.
In
When the key 6′ is inserted in the keyway 12, the raised portion 16 is located so that a first radial edge 16a is adjacent the diametrical edge 17a of the hole 17. This prevents the key 6′ being turned in a clockwise direction (when viewed from below, as in
This position corresponds to that of
An alternative embodiment is illustrated in
The proximal portion 20 is oriented relative to the distal portion 19 such that when first inserted into the device (
The specially shaped keyway 12 with the v-notch 18, and the key 6″ with the proximal 20 and distal 19 portions together comprise a key rotation stop. This functions in substantially the same manner as that described with respect to
It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0217908.3 | Aug 2002 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/GB03/02760 | 6/27/2003 | WO | 00 | 1/27/2005 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2004/013438 | 2/12/2004 | WO | A |
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20050262664 A1 | Dec 2005 | US |