The present invention relates to the field of locking shoes for windows or doors, and more specifically to an improved locking shoe assembly for locking a horizontal or vertical sash window or door within a channel of a frame.
Conventional double-hung and slider windows have vertical and horizontal sliding sash windows that can be pivoted or tilted out of the frame as desired. These types of windows have gained widespread popularity for their convenience in cleaning the outside of the window from the inside or for replacing a broken screen or pane on the outside from the inside.
Various types of locking or pivot mechanisms for such types of sliding sash windows have heretofore been available. Some of the problems associated with these conventional locking mechanisms include inadequate locking strength and reliability, susceptibility to being dislodged from channel when downward pressure is applied, tendency to cut into and damage profile, and unpleasant audible “pop” sound when the sash window or door is closed, among others.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a locking shoe assembly that increases the locking power and force of the horizontal or vertical sash window or door within the channel of the frame without cutting into and damaging the profile of the frame. There is a further need for a locking shoe assembly with noise reduction capabilities such that the unpleasant audible “pop” sound of conventional locking mechanisms is not heard when the sash window or door is opened or closed within the channel of the frame.
In a first aspect, there is provided herein a retractable noise reduction locking shoe assembly for locking a horizontal or vertical sash window or door within a channel of a frame. The locking shoe assembly includes a slide block having a primary opening extending from a front side of the slide block to a rear side of the slide block. The slide block has opposing side openings in direct communication with the primary opening, the primary opening from the front side of the side block is defined by at least a partial channel. The locking assembly further includes a retractable side block having a first end and a second end slidably received within each of the opposing side openings. The locking assembly includes a pair of spring members having a first end and a second end oppositely disposed within the partial channel. The first end of the spring member and the second end of the spring member are adapted to receive each retractable side block first end and second end within each of the opposing side openings. The locking assembly includes a cam having a front side defined by a perimeter and a rear side defined by a variable diameter having a first end and a second end, the second end configured to receive a pivot member mounted on either the sash window or door. The cam is rotatably disposed within the primary opening and adapted to be rotatable by the pivot member.
Rotation of the cam to an open position invokes a portion of the cam rear side other than the first end and the second end of the cam rear side to come into contact with each of the retractable side blocks to urge the retractable side blocks at opposing side openings to expand outwardly from the slide block and lock the slide block within the channel of the window or door frame. Rotation of the cam to a closed position invokes the first end and the second end of the cam rear side to come into contact with each of the retractable side blocks to urge the retractable side blocks at opposing side openings to retract inwardly from the slide block and unlock the slide block within the channel of the window or door frame.
In certain embodiments, the slide block is formed by injection molding.
In certain embodiments, the retractable side block includes a plurality of serrations.
In certain embodiments, the serrations may be comprised of an array of geometric shapes.
In certain embodiments, the array of geometric shapes may include squares, circles, triangles, semi-circles, cones, zigzags, or v-shapes, or a combination thereof.
In certain embodiments, the retractable side block at each of the opposing side openings forms a plurality of dimples in the channel of the frame when the cam is rotated to the open position.
In certain embodiments, the plurality of dimples in the channel of the frame disappear when the cam is rotated to the closed position.
In certain embodiments, the first end and the second end of the pair of spring members are connected to the first end and the second end of the retractable side block at each of the opposing side openings.
In certain embodiments, rotation of the cam from the open position to the closed position creates an inaudible sound when the sash window or door is opened or closed within the channel of the frame.
In certain embodiments, the front side of the cam is flat.
In certain embodiments, the front side of the cam has longitudinal ridges disposed thereon.
In certain embodiments, the rear side of the cam includes a transverse base having a rectangular opening for receiving the pivot member.
In certain embodiments, the front side of the cam is configured to be in operative communication with the channel of the frame when the cam is rotated to the open position.
In certain embodiments, the first end and the second end of the cam rear side are separated from each other by no greater than about 180 degrees.
In certain embodiments, rotation of the cam by about 15 degrees to about 44 degrees from the closed position to the open position invokes the portion of the cam rear side other than the first end and the second end of the cam rear side to come into contact with each of the retractable side blocks to urge the retractable side blocks at opposing side openings to expand outwardly from the slide block and lock the slide block within the channel of the window or door frame.
In certain embodiments, rotation of the cam by about 44 degrees from the open position to the closed position invokes the first end and the second end of the cam rear side to come into contact with each of the retractable side blocks to urge the retractable side blocks at opposing side openings to retract inwardly from the slide block and unlock the slide block within the channel of the window or door frame.
In certain embodiments, rotation of the cam from the open position to the closed position invokes the first end and the second end of cam rear side to come into contact with each of the retractable side blocks at opposing side openings to retract inwardly from the slide block by a force of the pair of spring members and unlock the slide block within the channel of the window or door frame.
In certain embodiments, rotation of the cam by about 15 degrees to about 44 degrees from the closed position to the open position gradually increases the variable diameter of the cam rear side from about 17.00 mm to about 18.50 mm.
In certain embodiments, rotation of the cam by about 44 degrees to about 15 degrees from the open position to the closed position gradually decreases the variable diameter of the cam rear side from about 18.50 mm to about 17.00 mm.
In certain embodiments, the cam rear side is defined by a perimeter such that the first end and the second end of the cam rear side have a diameter that is less than the diameter of the remaining perimeter of the cam rear side.
In certain embodiments, the sash window or door is slidably connected to the frame through at least two retractable noise reduction locking shoes, which slide inside the channel of the frame when the cam is rotated to the closed position.
In certain embodiments, the rear side of the slide block includes an upper half portion comprised of a plurality of oppositely disposed protrusions.
In certain embodiments, the plurality of oppositely disposed protrusions may be individually ribbed.
In a second aspect, there is provided herein a retractable noise reduction locking shoe assembly for locking a horizontal or vertical sash window or door within a channel of a frame. The locking shoe assembly includes a slide block having a primary opening extending from a front side of the slide block to a rear side of the slide block. The slide block includes opposing side openings in direct communication with the primary opening, the primary opening from the front side of the side block is defined by at least a partial channel. The locking assembly further includes a retractable side block having a first end and a second end slidably received within each of the opposing side openings. The retractable side block has serrations comprised of an array of geometric shapes. The locking assembly includes a pair of spring members having a first end and a second end oppositely disposed within the partial channel. The first end of the spring member and the second end of the spring member are adapted to receive each retractable side block first end and second end within each of the opposing side openings. The locking assembly includes a cam having a front side defined by a perimeter and a rear side defined by a variable diameter having a first end and a second end, the second end configured to receive a pivot member mounted on either the sash window or door. The cam is rotatably disposed within the primary opening and adapted to be rotatable by the pivot member.
Rotation of the cam to an open position invokes a portion of the cam rear side other than the first end and the second end of the cam rear side to come into contact with each of the retractable side blocks to urge the retractable side blocks at opposing side openings to expand outwardly from the slide block and lock the slide block within the channel of the window or door frame. Rotation of the cam to a closed position invokes the first end and the second end of cam rear side to come into contact with each of the retractable side blocks to urge the retractable side blocks at opposing side openings to retract inwardly from the slide block and unlock the slide block within the channel of the window or door frame. Rotation of the cam from the open position to the closed position creates an inaudible sound when the sash window or door is opened or closed within the channel of the frame.
Various advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the various functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments, but it is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.
Referring now to the drawings, specifically,
A detailed construction of the locking shoe assembly 14 of the present invention is shown in
The locking shoe assembly 14 includes a pair of retractable side blocks 40 each having a pronged first end 42 and a pronged second end 44 slidably received within each of the opposing side openings 34 of the slide block 26. The retractable side blocks 40 may be fabricated from aluminum, zinc, or other suitable metal or metal alloy materials. The locking shoe assembly 14 further includes a pair of metal or metal alloy spring members 46 each having a first end 48 and a second end 50 configured to be oppositely disposed from one another within the partial channel 36. First end 48 of spring member 46 and second end 50 of spring member are adapted to receive each retractable side block 40 first end 42 and second end 44 within each of the opposing side openings 34 of the slide block 26. It is to be understood that the spring members 46 may be connected to first end 42 and second end 44 of the retractable side block 40 in various manners, such as by loop or latch and hook attachment, soldering, welding, and the like.
Referring further to
In operation, rotation of cam 52 to an open position (
Rotation of cam 52 to a closed position (
In an exemplary embodiment, rotation of the cam by about 44 degrees to about 15 degrees from the open position to the closed position, the variable diameter 70 (
In another exemplary embodiment, rotation of cam 52 by about 15 degrees to about 44 degrees from the closed position (
In a further exemplary embodiment, rotation of the cam by about 15 degrees to about 44 degrees from the closed position to the open position, the variable diameter 70 (
In one embodiment, rotation of cam 52 from the open position to the closed position creates an inaudible sound when the sash window 12, 18 or door is opened or closed within the channel 20 of the frame 16.
In accordance with the present invention, the window sash 12 is connected to the double-hung vertical window 10 or slider horizontal window 22 through the locking shoe assembly 14 inside the channel 20 of the window frame 16. In one embodiment, sash window 12, 24 or door (not shown) is slidably connected to the frame 16 through at least two locking shoe assemblies 14 (one at each end of sash window 12, 24 as shown in
Referring now to
It can be appreciated that the locking shoe assembly of the present invention has several primary advantages over conventional locking shoe assemblies. Some of these primary advantages include increased locking power and force within the channel of the frame without cutting into and damaging the profile, spring-loaded cam mechanism steadily retracts the side blocks to inward position when cam is rotated to the closed position, and steadily retracting cam mechanism lowers power to turn cam and avoids the unpleasant audible “pop” sound of conventional locking assemblies when cam is rotated from the open position to the closed position.
While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the essential scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.