This invention relates to a device for limiting or restricting the extent of opening of a sliding sash window. This device will be referred to herein as a sash window restrictor.
There is a requirement to restrict the extent to which a sash window can be opened, partly to prevent children opening a window beyond a certain distance so that they cannot fall out through the window, and partly from an anti-theft point of view, to prevent the window being opened from the outside.
However any such restrictor needs to be capable of being overridden when the window is to be fully opened by an adult, from the inside.
It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at least one problem associated with the prior art whether referred to herein or otherwise.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sash restrictor comprising a housing, a tab which is retractable into the housing and extendable from the housing, and a mechanism acting between the tab and the housing which allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and which holds the tab in the housing, the mechanism comprising latching means to latch the tab in a retracted position.
Preferably the latching means requires an actuation in order to release the tab and to allow the tab to extend from the housing.
The latching means may comprise magnetic means. Preferably the tab comprises a first magnetic member and the housing comprises a second magnetic member and wherein, in the latched condition, the first magnetic member engages with the second magnetic member.
In order to change from a latched condition to an unlatched condition, preferably the first magnetic member is relatively moved to a position sufficiently spaced from the second magnetic member. Preferably the first magnetic member is arranged, in use, to be moved relative to the second magnetic member manually by a user.
The mechanism may comprise urging means to urge first magnetic member away from the second magnetic member.
The mechanism may comprise urging means to urge the tab from the retracted position to the extended position. Preferably the urging means resists movement of the tab from the extended position to the retracted position.
The urging means may comprise resilient means.
The urging means may comprise a spring and preferably comprises a torsion spring.
Preferably the tab is pivotally mounted to the housing.
Preferably the tab comprises a first arm and a second arm. The first arm may comprise a latching member and the second arm may comprise an actuation member in order to unlatch the tab from a retracted position. The first arm may comprise an actuation member in order to latch the tab in a retracted position.
Preferably, in use, a user manually moves the tab to a latched position to enable a sash to move relatively over the housing and the tab may then be unlatched either manually by the user or by the action of the sash in order to enable urging means to move the tab from the retracted position towards an extended position.
Preferably the tab is moveable to a first position in which the tab is at least partially (and more preferably totally) retracted into the housing and the tab may not project beyond the housing. Preferably the housing is moveable to a second position in which at least a part of the tab projects outwardly relative to the housing.
Preferably, in use, the tab is arranged to be manually moved from the second position to the first position and preferably for the tab to be latched in the first position.
Preferably, in use, the tab is arranged to automatically move by movement means from the first position to the second position and preferably once the tab has been unlatched by an actuation.
Preferably, in use, the tab is arranged to automatically move by movement means from a first retracted position to a second extended position once the tab has been unlatched by an actuation.
The actuation may comprise a manual actuation and may comprise a push movement by a user.
The actuation may comprise a contact force generated by movement of the sash window relative to the sash window restrictor.
The tab may be retained in the housing by magnetic means.
The housing will preferably be set into a vertical frame member of one sash (normally the upper, outer sash) of a window, at a position, say, 10 cm above the top rail of the lower sash when the windows are closed. When the tab is retracted, the tab may lie substantially flush with the frame member, but when extended will project from the frame member sufficiently far to prevent the lower sash from passing: With the tab extended, the lower sash can be lifted until it reaches the tab but no further, so that a 10 cm gap will be opened at the bottom of the window.
When the window is to be opened fully, the tab will be pressed in and the bottom sash will be slid up, past the retracted tab, before the tab is able to extend.
There may be restrictor devices on both sides of the window, or just on one side. If there are restrictor devices on both sides, two separate operations will be required before the window can open, and this can provide an added security measure to make it more difficult for a window to be opened by a child.
Where there is a restrictor device on only one side, the device may have a second user-actuated feature so that the tab can only be pressed in once the second feature has been actuated. Again, this can provide an added security measure to make it more difficult for a window to be opened by a child.
Many different mechanisms can be used to hold the tab in the housing for a period of time. Generally the tab will be extended from the housing by a spring, and when pressed back in, i.e. retracted into the housing, the spring will be tensioned. It may however be possible to design a mechanism where gravity, or another method, is used to extend the tab from the housing.
The tab may be pivoted in the housing such that one end of the tab will project from the housing, in the extended position. Alternatively, the tab may move linearly into and out of the housing. Part of the edge of the tab which, in use, will be facing the lower sash may have an inclined face to allow the sash to pass the tab, pushing it in to the housing as it does so, to allow the sash to pass even if the tab is not completely retracted. However such inclined face should only be at the outermost part of the tab edge, as the main part of that tab edge should be substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the lower sash, so as to prevent the sash passing when the tab is fully extended.
The mechanism between the tab and the housing preferably incorporates a spring and energy is stored in the spring when the tab is pushed into the housing. The mechanism may lock the tab in the retracted position, and a trigger may be activated by the passing of the lowers sash to release the lock and to allow the tab to be extended by the spring. While the lower sash lies in front of the device, the tab can only extend into contact with the lower sash frame, but one the lower sash is returned to its closed position, the tab will spring fully out to prevent reopening of the window without the tab being pushed in again.
In another embodiment, the tab can be linearly movable and can be controlled by a push-push mechanism where the first push locks the tab in its retracted position in the housing and a subsequent push releases the tab, allowing it to extend. The second push can be provided by the lower sash as it passes the device.
In one form, the mechanism will not lock the tab in its retracted position, but will damp the restoring force of the spring, so that the spring is only able to slowly extend the tab. However in other embodiments, the tab may lock into the housing and a separate trigger can be operated, for example by movement of the lower sash, to release the tab.
Instead of a lock, the stored spring force may be released only slowly, for example under the control of some form of damping system. In this embodiment, the tab will start to extend as soon as the force pushing it into the retracted position is released. However the speed at which the tab extends will be slow enough to allow the lower sash to be moved past the device before very much extension has taken place.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly comprising a sash and a sash restrictor, the sash restrictor comprising a housing, a tab which is retractable into the housing and extendable from the housing, and a mechanism acting between the tab and the housing which allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and which holds the tab in the housing, the mechanism comprising latching means to latch the tab in a retracted position.
Preferably the sash restrictor prevents or at least inhibits movement of the sash relative to the sash restrictor whilst the tab is in the extended position.
Preferably the sash restrictor enables movement of the sash passed the sash restrictor whilst the tab is initially in a retracted position.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for assembly into a sash restrictor, the kit comprising a housing, a tab which is retractable, in use, into the housing and extendable from the housing, and a mechanism acting, in use, between the tab and the housing which allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and which holds the tab in the housing, the mechanism comprising latching means to latch the tab in a retracted position.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of restricting movement of a sash comprising mounting a sash restrictor adjacent to a sash wherein the sash restrictor comprises a housing, a tab which is retractable into the housing and extendable from the housing, and a mechanism acting between the tab and the housing which allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and which holds the tab in the housing, the mechanism comprising latching means to latch the tab in a retracted position.
The method may comprise pushing the tab into the housing to latch the tab in a retracted position.
The method may comprise pushing an actuating member to release the latching means.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The upper sash includes a sash limiter device at 20. This device has a housing 22 which is recessed into the sash frame 10, and a tab 24 which is movable between an extended, projecting position as shown, and a retracted position where it is housed substantially completely in the housing 22.
In the extended position of the tab 24 as shown in
It is desirable that the retracted tab should automatically extend itself out of the housing 20, once the leading edge of the lower sash 12 has moved passed. Thus, once the leading edge of the lower sash 12 has passed the device, the tab will extend, either gradually or quickly, and as the lower sash is lifted further, the tab will bear against a surface of the lower sash frame. In this way, once the lower sash is lowered again and the window is closed, the tab will automatically move to its extended position without any user intervention being required.
The tab will preferably be spring-loaded and can be pressed into the housing against spring pressure, with the spring being released to re-extend the tab once the lower sash has passed the device. In some embodiments, a secondary lock may lock the tab in the open position, and require release before the tab can be pressed in. It may be necessary to hold a button or the like release mechanism whilst at the same time pressing in the tab.
The tab itself may take up a number of different configurations. In
When the tab is pushed in, a rack 32 which is integral with the tab engages with a first, inner sprocket 34 and rotates that sprocket in a clockwise direction. This rotation entrains an outer sprocket 36. The outer sprocket 36 engages with a second sprocket 38, and this second sprocket includes a coil spring 39 which is wound up as the tab is pushed in and the second sprocket rotates. A third sprocket 40 meshes with the sprocket 38 and has a release cam 42 at one point around its circumference, and an escapement 44. The housing also contains a retaining plate 46 which is vertically slidable in the housing under the influence of a spring 48.
As can be seen from
It will be noted that the first sprocket 34 has a clutch mechanism within the outer sprocket 36, and this ensures that rotation of the sprocket 34 in a clockwise direction rotates the outer sprocket 36, but when the inner sprocket rotates in the opposite direction, the sprocket 36 is not entrained. In the retracted position shown in
To enable the window to be opened, the user must push the tab in so that it locks in the retracted position.
The devices described are just two examples of sash window restrictors. It is important that the restrictor, once retracted to allow the window to be fully opened, automatically resets itself so that when the window is closed, the tab of the restrictor automatically moves into its window restricting position.
The tab can be any shape which can prevent movement of one sash past the other, and the term “tab” is not intended to limit the possible forms of this component.
There may be sash restricting devices of this type on one side of a window, or on both sides of the window. If there are safety requirements requiring at least two manual operations before a window can be fully opened, these requirements can be met by fitting a device as described here on both sides of the window. Alternatively (or additionally) the or each device can be provided with a secondary lock which locks the tab in the extended position and requires manual operation to release that lock before the tab can be pushed in.
As shown in
The sash window restrictor 120 is arranged in use to be mounted to a sash window assembly and is arranged to be mounted to a lower part (or lower frame member) of the upper sash and is mounted as an inset such that the housing plate 123 is substantially flush with the outer surface of the lower part (or frame member) of the upper sash, as shown in
In use, a user pushes the first arm 110 inwardly into the housing 122 in order for the magnet 118 to engage with the magnetic material of the housing 122 and for the tab 124 to be held in a retracted position. The lower sash window 130 can then be moved upwardly relative to the upper sash window 132. When the tab 124 is held in the retracted position, the second arm 112 of the tab 124 projects outwardly from the housing 122 such that an upper part 131 (or upper frame member) will contact the second arm 112 in order to unlatch the magnet 118. The torsion spring 116 then urges the tab 124 to extend. Movement of the upper sash window 132 over the first arm 110 is insufficient to engage the magnet 118 with the housing 122. Accordingly, once the lower sash window 130 has returned to the lower closed position the tab 124 automatically extends to restrict upwards movement of the lower sash window 130 relative to the upper sash window 132. A reinforcement plate 136 is mounted on an upper part of the lower sash window 130 in order to provide a reinforced contact area which is arranged to contact the tab 124 to prevent or inhibit the lower sash window from being opened.
In another embodiment of the present invention as shown in
The first arm 110 of the tab 124 normally projects out at an angle at the bottom of the sash window restrictor 120 and is held out by a torsion spring 116 which prevents the sash being raised beyond a chosen height. To allow the sash to be raised fully, the first arm 110 on the sash window restrictor 120 is pressed fully in until it is held in by magnetic contact. The second arm 112 of the tab 124 now projects so that when the sash is raised it pushes the second arm 112 inwards breaking contact with the magnet and allowing the spring 116 to push the first arm 110 up to the face of the sash. When the sash is lowered, as it passes the bottom of the first arm 110, the spring 116 pops the first arm 110 outwards and automatically resets it into the limiting position.
The version which sits at the side of the sash has the arm running along the surface of the glass rather than the surface of the sash frame.
In further embodiments of the present invention the latching mechanism may be provided by any suitable releasable latching means. For example, the latching means may comprise a plastic or metal snap feature to retain the first arm in the housing. Again the latching means is releasable by actuation as previously described.
Furthermore, the sash window restrictor may be lockable such that a lock mechanism protects and restricts the use and operation of the sash window restrictor.
There may also be locking versions of each type based on the same assemblies one using a key and another using a press button and further versions may use other suitable locking mechanisms. The press button version will automatically be set in the locked position and will have to have the button pressed to free the locking arm allowing it to be depressed and the sash to be opened. When the sash is closed the locking button will reset preventing the arm from being manually depressed. The key version will have to be manually unlocked with the key before the limiter can be used in the normal way and then locked with the key to make it secure.
The present invention is primarily applicable to sash windows and limiting or restricting the movement of a first sash window relative to a second sash window. However, the present invention can be used in other applications to prevent relative movement of a sash, for example the inset unit could be fitted into sliding patio doors to allow them to be opened a small distance while being secure.
In the descriptions of the embodiments that follow, like features have been have been indicated with numbers incremented by 100.
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in
When the first arm 310 of the tab 324 is retracted and pushed inside the housing 322, the lower edge 364 of the first arm 310 rides over an upper end of the leaf spring 360. In this example, the upper end of the leaf spring 360 is curved to provide a smooth engagement surface with the end 364 of the first arm 310. In the retracted position, the first arm 310 is held within the housing 322 such that the end 364 of the first arm 310 is behind the leaf spring 360. When the second arm 312 is pressed, due to the movement of the window sash, the tab 324 pivots about the pivot member 314 and the first arm 310 is forced past the leaf spring 360 by the action of the torsion spring 316.
In this embodiment, an indicator 350 is provided in a front face of the first arm 310 of the tab 324. The indicator 350 has the same function as described hereinbefore.
In other embodiments, it may be required to fix a restrictor 120 to a hollow upvc frame using screws. In this case, it is necessary to provide an insert 140 that fits within the hollow space of the frame. As shown in
It will be appreciated that any of the embodiments of a sash window restrictor described so far may include locking means which locks the tab in the extended position. As described hereinbefore these locking means are designed such that a manual operation, for example the pressed or sliding of a button, is required to release that lock before the tab can be pushed in. Such locking means provide a dual action requirement for each single sash window restrictor.
As explained above, the operation of the sash window restrictor may comprise a single action although as mentioned above the opening of the window may require a double action or dual action restricting mechanism. In order to provide a dual action sash window restrictor means, the sash window may be provided with two separate single action sash window restrictors. Alternatively, the sash window restrictor is provided with a dual action requirement. For example, the sash window restrictor may be provided with a locking button that must be moved out of engagement with the tab to allow the tab to initially be pressed into the housing. In particular, the button is slid out of engagement with the tab to enable the tab to be pressed in which thereby provides a dual action requirement. The locking button is also arranged to automatically reset.
Further embodiments of a sash window restrictor will now be described that include locking means.
The locking member is arranged to engage with the second arm 512 of the tab 524. The locking member 580 is a substantially rectangular block having a locking foot 584 projecting at an angle from one end of the block. This locking foot 584 is designed to engage with a recess 586 in the second arm 512 of the tab 524 to hold the second arm 512 within the housing 522 and retain the first arm 510 in an extended position, as shown most clearly in
At an opposite end of the locking member 580, biasing means, in this case a compression spring 588, is located between the locking member 580 and a part of the housing 522. In this example, the compression spring 588 extends through the lock housing 582, however, alternatively, the compression spring 588 may be located between the locking member 580 and a part of the lock housing 582. The compression spring 588 acts to bias the locking member 580 towards the tab 524, and in particular towards the second arm 512 of the tab 524.
In order to retract the first arm 510 of the tab 524 and push the first arm 510 within the housing 522, the locking member 580 must first be disengaged from the second arm 512.
In this way, when the first arm 510 of the tab 524 is projecting out from the housing 522 of the sash window restrictor 520 to prevent a window sash being raised beyond a chosen height, the locking foot 584 is engaged in the recess 586 in the second arm 512 of the tab 524 and is held in this position by the action of the compression spring 588. To allow the sash to be raised fully, the locking member 580 must first be slid in a direction away from the tab 580, in this example in an upwards direction into the lock housing 582. With the locking foot 584 removed from the recess 586, the first arm 510 on the sash window restrictor 520 can then be pressed fully in until it is held in by magnetic contact, as described hereinbefore. Once a user has released the locking member 580, the compression spring 588 urges the locking member 580 downwards so that the locking foot 584 extends behind the second arm 512 of the tab 524.
In this position, the second arm 512 of the tab 524 now projects outwards so that when the sash is raised it acts to push the second arm 512 inwards. A rear edge of the second arm 512 contacts a sloping face 590 of the locking member 580 and the locking member 580 slides upwards over the second arm 512. As the second arm 512 moves further inside the housing 522, the locking member 580 slides over the tip of the second arm 512 and the locking member 580 is then urged towards the second arm 512 and the locking foot 584 engages in the recess 586.
In addition, in this embodiment, the magnet 518 located in the first arm 510 engages with a second magnet 592 that is fixed to the housing 522. The two magnets 518, 592 are oriented so that opposite poles of the magnets 518, 592 make touching contact when the first arm 510 moves inside the housing 522.
A further embodiment shown in
A further embodiment of a sash window restrictor having a lock mechanism is shown in
In this embodiment, a button 898 is attached to the second arm 812. The button may be attached to the second arm 812 using any suitable means, but in this example it is fixed to the second arm 812 using a screw 899. The button 898 is substantially cuboid, with the face opposing the second arm being curved 901 in one direction. The end of the curved surface 901 stands proud of a top face 903 of the button 898 thereby forming a lip 905. The tab 824 is pivotally mounted in the housing 822 such that at least a part of the button 898 protrudes through the housing 822 and is visible from a front side 904 of the housing 822. In this arrangement, the arms 810, 812 of the tab 824 protrude from a rear side 906 of the housing 822.
In this embodiment, the slide member 880 comprises a slide plate 905 and a mounting block 907. The slide plate 905 and mounting block 907 are joined rigidly together such that a part of the slide plate 905 is on a front side 904 of the housing 822, and the mounting block 907 is on the rear side 906 of the housing 882. As described previously, a lock housing 882 is fixed into the housing 822, and the mounting block 907 slides within this lock housing 882. Biasing means, in this case a compression spring 888, is located between the mounting block 907 and a part of the lock housing 882. The compression spring 888 acts to bias the locking member 580 towards the tab 524, and in particular towards the second arm 512 and the button 898.
When the first arm 810 of the tab 824 is projecting out from the housing 822 of the sash window restrictor 820 to prevent a window sash being raised beyond a chosen height, an end 909 of the slide plate 905 abuts the top surface 903 of the button 898. Movement of the second arm 812 and button is prevented by the lip engaging with the slide plate, as shown in
When the sash is raised it acts to push the second arm 812 inwards and the first arm 810 is extended from the housing 822 by the action of the torsion spring 816. As this happens, the curved surface 901 of the button 898 slides against the chamfered edge 911 of the slide plate 905 and forces the locking member 880 upwards until the tab 824 has rotated sufficiently to cause the end 909 of the slide plate 905 to drop down behind the lip 905 and lock the tab 824 in position as described previously.
The sash window restrictor may be mounted to any suitable part of the window or window frame including a window frame member, a sash member, a stile, a jamb etc.
If required, the assembly may include a bracket or abutment member which is arranged on the other part of the window assembly from the tab and provides a suitable placed abutment surface to abut with the tab to restrict the opening of the window.
The present invention is for use with all suitable sash windows, for example horizontal and vertical sliding sash windows.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0811324.3 | Jun 2008 | GB | national |
0817136.5 | Sep 2008 | GB | national |
0817137.3 | Sep 2008 | GB | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/691,010 (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0362862), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/499,858, filed Sep. 29, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,816,300), which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/999,751, filed Dec. 17, 2010 (granted as U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,461), which is a National Stage Entry of PCT/GB2009/001526, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12999751 | Dec 2010 | US |
Child | 14499858 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15691010 | Aug 2017 | US |
Child | 17464777 | US | |
Parent | 14499858 | Sep 2014 | US |
Child | 15691010 | US |