The present invention is directed towards window locks, and more particularly toward manual handles for actuating window locks. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a flush mounted or low profile actuating window lock for casement windows. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a flush mounted lock actuator designed to drive a lock bar that locks and unlocks a casement window, which protrudes from the window frame significantly less than prior art designs, while employing linkage to prevent the actuator from being back driven from either the locked position or unlocked position.
Generally, a casement window is a window unit in which the single vent cranks outward, to the right or left. Casement windows are hinged at the side. (Windows hinged at the top are referred to as awning windows.) They are used singly or in pairs within a common frame. Casement windows are often held open using a casement stay. Casement windows open like doors. Like doors, either the left or right side is hinged (or, more accurately, pivoted), and the non-hinged side locks securely into place by a lock bar driven by a lock handle. Unlike a door, the casement window opens not by a knob or handle but by means of some variation of a gear driven operator or lever, which is placed around hand height or at the bottom. A gear driven operator, stay, or friction hinge controlling the position of the sash is necessary when the window opens outward to hold the window in position during inclement weather, such as high winds.
The locking system for a casement window is typically on the side of the window. Lock handles for casement windows are known in the art. Generally, a lock handle is mounted on the frame of the casement window and moves an internally mounted fork component left or right. The fork component drives a lock or tie bar that is also mounted to the frame. One type of locking mechanism for a casement window uses a flat tie bar slidably mounted to the window frame along the open side of the window. The tie bar is provided with multiple pins for locking and driving that extend perpendicularly outward from the tie bar. A locking handle is provided on the interior of the window frame that can be thrown by the user between locked and unlocked positions. The locking handle slides the tie bar, which moves each locking pin between a corresponding locked and unlocked position. A typical lock bar and lock handle to drive the lock bar is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,946,633, entitled “Low Friction Adjustable Roller Pin,” issued to Minter on May 24, 2011.
Lock handles of the prior art are known to protrude from the casement window frame at a distance of approximately 20-25 mm. This protrusion is due to the internal driving mechanism within the handle. Casement window lock handles of the prior art drive a fork component, which engages and slides the lock bar. In order to drive the fork component from one side to the other, the handle casing must have sufficient depth to allow for the handle to pivot about the casing and to allow the fork internally to shift from side to side.
The most relevant prior art does not teach or disclose a locking mechanism capable of low profile (on the order of 8 mm) flush mounting that can be adapted to work with existing tie bar locking designs. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,087 issued to Vetter, et al., on Feb. 11, 1992, entitled “Sash Lock,” a basic multipoint window lock mechanism is taught using an actuating lever/handle that drives a sliding lock bar. The actuating lever handle has a pin located at the opposite end from the handle end. The pin is engaged in and drives a fork component on the lock bar. This prior art does not disclose, describe, or suggest any type of linkage in combination with the fork component to achieve a significantly reduced profile lock actuation. Nor does this prior art design introduce additional linkage to prevent back driving the lock.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,710 issued to Anderson on Sep. 29, 1998, entitled “Flush Lock Actuator,” a lock actuator is disclosed to provide a “flush” lock appearance. However, for reasons discussed further herein, the low profile feature of this invention is provided with a design distinctly different from the present design. The Anderson design teaches a handle that is symmetrical and flush with the body of the actuator. The handle is pivoted with respect to the casing about its center on a pin. One end of the handle pivots towards (and into) the window frame, while the other end pivots out of the body and away from the frame. The end that pivots into the window has an actuating link attached to it that drives the lock bar. There is no restrictor arm for redirecting the pivot points of the handle to work in combination with a fork component to reduce the casing profile as taught by the present invention, nor is there a rotatable connector to prevent “over-opening” the lock.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,802 issued to Anderson, et al., on Nov. 3, 1998, entitled “Multi-Point Lock Operator For Casement Window,” a lock actuator is disclosed that drives a multipoint lock bar. Although the actuator handle is not flush, the handle swings a full 180° so that it lies flat at both the locked and unlocked limits of motion. The far end of the actuator handle drives a “universal” link that is connected to the lock bar. In this design, the handle is pivoted directly on the casing or body of the device, which is distinctly different than the present design. Consequently, there is no need for a restrictor arm or any additional linkage for over center security to prevent the lock handle from being back driven.
In general, the prior art is silent with respect to salient features of the present invention that achieve flush mounting and prevent back driving the lock.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a casement window lock that is flush mounted with a significantly lower profile than the current state of the art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a casement window lock that allows for reversal of the handle from the locking position to the unlocking position, and vice versa.
In yet another object of the present invention, it is desirable to provide a casement window lock that prevents back driving the locking mechanism.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a casement window lock that includes a releasable latch mechanism to maintain the handle in a flush or low profile position when in a locked state.
The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a casement window lock comprising a casing having a body including a longitudinal slot in an exterior surface thereof, a restrictor arm pivotally attached at one end to the casing body and pivotally attached at the other end to a handle, an actuator including a fork component for engaging a lock bar and a body comprising opposing channels for slidably engaging portions of the casing body defining the longitudinal slot, and a handle in pivotal communication with the actuator at one end of the handle, and in pivotal communication with the restrictor arm at an intermediate point on the handle. Movement of the handle causes the actuator body to slide with the casing longitudinal slot in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the handle. When the handle is rotated to an unlocked position, the handle pivots about a first hinge point at the connection of the handle and actuator to cause a second hinge point at the connection of the handle and restrictor to traverse within the casing body in a first direction perpendicular to movement of the handle, and conversely when the handle is rotated to a locked position, the handle pivots about the first hinge point in an opposite direction to cause the second hinge point to traverse within said casing body in a second direction opposite the first direction.
The lock may include a plurality of hinges or pivot points forming an over center linkage to prevent back driving said lock, where the over center linkage includes a first hinge point rotatably joining the handle to the actuator, a second hinge point rotatably joining the handle to the restrictor arm, and third hinge point rotatably joining the restrictor arm to the casing, such that when the handle is in an unlocked position, the first hinge point is between the second and third hinge points, and the second hinge point is above an action line connecting the first and third hinge points, and when the handle is in the locked position, the second hinge point is between the first and third hinge points, and the second hinge point is below an action line connecting the first and third hinge points.
The actuator may include a detent spring operably coupled to the actuator body for engaging at least one detent formed in an interior surface of the casing body, wherein the detent spring provides tactile and audible indication that the actuator has reached an end of travel.
In an embodiment, the lock may further comprise a latch mechanism for releasably retaining the handle in a locked position. The latch mechanism comprises a shuttle translatable between a biased latch engaging position and a latch releasing position and including a projection integral with or connected to a top surface thereof for engaging an end of the handle when the handle is in a locked position, a spring normally biasing said shuttle in the latch engaging position, and a latch release depressible in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the casing body. The latch release includes an angled face for mating with a correspondingly-angled face of said shuttle, such that when the latch release is depressed the angled mating surfaces convert transverse motion of the latch release into vertical motion of the shuttle to the latch releasing position, thereby compressing the spring and disengaging the shuttle projection from the handle end and allowing the handle to be rotated to an unlocked position.
The lock may further comprise a spring action push mechanism for releasing the handle from a locked position. The push mechanism comprises a housing integral with or connected to an interior of the casing body, and a pedestal at least partially disposed within the housing and normally biased into an extended position by a spring. When the handle is in a latched position, the handle contacts the pedestal to move the pedestal into a retracted position to compress the spring, and when the shuttle is in the latch releasing position, the spring is permitted to expand, thereby pushing the handle outward from the casing to allow for rotation of the handle to the unlocked position. The pedestal may include a lip for maintaining at least a portion of the pedestal within the housing when in the biased, extended position.
In an embodiment, the lock may further include a rotatable position stop for preventing the handle from over-rotating and contacting the casing and ensuring clearance therebetween as the handle is rotated to an unlocked position.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of securing a casement window, comprising actuating a flush lock for the casement window, wherein the casement window includes an elongated casing having a body defining a longitudinal slot in an exterior surface thereof, and the flush lock includes a restrictor arm pivotally attached at one end to the casing body and pivotally attached at the other end to a handle, an actuator including a body and a fork component for engaging a lock bar, the actuator body in slidable communication with the casing body within the longitudinal slot, a handle in pivotal communication with the actuator at one end of the handle and in pivotal communication with the restrictor arm at an intermediate point on the handle, and a plurality of hinges or pivot points forming an over center linkage to prevent back driving the lock, where the over center linkage includes a first hinge point rotatably joining the handle to the actuator, a second hinge point rotatably joining the handle to the restrictor arm, and a third hinge point rotatably joining the restrictor arm to the casing. The method comprises rotating the handle to an unlocked position, such that the first hinge point is between the second and third hinge points and the second hinge point is above an action line connecting the first and third hinge points, or rotating the handle to a locked position, such that the second hinge point is between the first and third hinge points and the second hinge point is below an action line connecting the first and third hinge points, and moving the actuator body within the longitudinal slot in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the handle.
In an embodiment, the flush lock may further include a latch mechanism for releasably retaining the handle in a locked position, the latch mechanism comprising a shuttle translatable between a biased latch engaging position and a latch releasing position and including a projection integral with or connected to a top surface thereof for engaging an end of the handle when the handle is in a locked position, a spring normally biasing the shuttle in the latch engaging position, and a latch release depressible in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the casing body, where the latch release includes an angled face for mating with a correspondingly-angled face of the shuttle, such that when the latch release is depressed, the angled mating surfaces convert transverse motion of the latch release into vertical motion of the shuttle to the latch releasing position, thereby compressing the spring and disengaging the shuttle projection from the handle end and allowing the handle to be rotated to an unlocked position. The method further comprises engaging the shuttle projection with the end of the handle when the handle is rotated into the locked position to maintain the handle in a flush mounted position within the casing body. The method may further comprise the steps of depressing the latch release in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the casing body to disengage the shuttle projection from the handle end, and rotating the handle to the unlocked position.
In another embodiment, the flush lock may further include a detent formed in an interior surface of the casing body and the actuator may include a detent spring operably coupled to the actuator body, and the method may further comprise the step of engaging the detent spring with the casing body detent as the handle is rotated to the unlocked position, the detent spring providing tactile and audible indication that the actuator has reached an end of travel.
The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
In describing the embodiments of the present invention, reference will be made herein to
Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation of the invention. For example, words such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “upward,” “downward,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the drawings. Indeed, the referenced components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers may be used in the drawings to identify similar elements.
Additionally, in the subject description, the words “exemplary,” “illustrative,” or the like, are used to mean serving as an example, instance or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily intended to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or design. Rather, the use of the words “exemplary” or “illustrative” is merely intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.
The lock of the present invention is a low profile, flush design, that protrudes from the window frame significantly less than the prior art, at about 8 mm compared to 25 mm in the current prior art designs. When locking a casement window, the window is closed generally by a crank. The strikes on the moving sash are brought close to the pins on a tie bar mounted to the non-moving window frame. The lock handle is then thrown. This drives an actuator or fork component within the lock, which engages the tie bar and drives it, moving the tie bar pins into engagement with corresponding hooks or strikes. The actuator or fork component is preferably a flat structure adapted to slide within the lock casing, preferably having two extensions, such as leg portions, for engaging a tie bar. The strikes generally have a ramp surface at their mouth and the pins slide up this ramp into engagement. This motion pulls the sash tightly against the window frame generating compression for sealing the sash to the window frame.
To achieve this “flush,” low profile appearance, the locking mechanism of the present invention introduces a “three bar” linkage between the handle, a restrictor, and actuator element: the first of the three bar links formed by the handle between a first pivot at the actuator element and a second pivot at the restrictor, the second bar or link formed by the restrictor which pivots at each end thereof, and the third bar or link created by the actuator element and the sliding motion of the actuator element relative to a fixed pivot point of the restrictor on the body of the lock casing. The handle drives the movement of the actuator element, which translates within a longitudinal slot in the casing in a direction opposite movement of the handle. The restrictor redirects the pivot points of the handle to work in combination with the actuator element to reduce the casing profile. As the actuator element translates within the elongated slot in the casing, the pivot point of the handle and the restrictor shifts relative to the actuator element to allow the handle to rotate approximately 150° from an initial position. In prior art designs, the handle directly drives a fork component or the tie bar—structural limitations that result in a higher profile appearance. In the present design, the handle is allowed to move more deeply into the lock mechanism to reduce the height of the lock casing.
Referring now to
The lock mechanism 100 includes a lever arm or handle 70, pivotable about a restrictor 60 through a hinge or pivot pin 111 (
Preferably, restrictor arms 62, 64 are riveted to handle 70; however, other attachment schemes may be employed provided handle 70 is rotatably attached to restrictor arms 62, 64 at the desired pivot location. Pivot pin 111 is preferably located at an intermediate point on handle 70 between the handle endpoints at a distance closer to the main casing 1 and escutcheon 4 than the handle's grip portion end 74. This allows for greater mechanical leverage by a user when pulling handle 70 upwards or pushing handle 70 downwards.
To further assist with handle stability during operation, a spring washer is preferably employed between restrictor 60 and main casing 1. This spring washer, preferably a Belleville spring washer, is capable of providing large amounts of force with very little deflection, thus allowing the present invention to provide upwards of 75 pounds of load with two-tenths of one millimeter (0.2 mm) of deflection. The spring washer also accommodates production variances while maintaining a pre-load force on restrictor arms 62, 64.
As further shown in
An actuator element 50 is employed that is similar to some prior art designs, insomuch as a fork component 58 is used to engage a tie bar during locking and unlocking actuation. Fork component 58 drives a tie bar or lock bar that is mounted to the casement window frame. The tie bar engages a series of strikes that are mounted to the moving sash. Once the tie bar is engaged with the strikes, the window is locked. As best seen in
Upon actuation of the handle 70, as the actuator element 50 translates vertically within slot 18 defined between casing halves 10, 20, the pivot pin 111 connecting the handle 70 and restrictor 60 shifts vertically, as well as transversely, relative to pivot pin 110 to allow the handle to rotate from an initial position. In one embodiment, handle 70 is permitted to rotate approximately 150° from its initial position, as shown in
The relationship between the hinged points of the present invention interplays with the translation of the motion of handle 70 and actuator element 50, as the restrictor 60 redirects the pivot points of the handle to work in combination with the actuator element to reduce the casing profile and present a “flush” or low profile appearance of the handle.
As shown in
When handle 70 is at either end of its travel, the three bar linkage design moves one pivot or hinge on the handle to an over center position relative to the two other pivot or hinge points. This over center position prevents the tie bar or lock bar from being back driven to the unlocked position when an “opening” force is applied to rotate handle 70. As shown in
At the other extreme, as shown in
Referring now to
Actuator element 50 includes a fork component 58 extending from a body portion 51 thereof for engaging a tie bar during locking and unlocking, and a tabbed portion 53 configured for operably coupling to handle 70 via pivot pin 110 (
As further shown in
As best seen in
To release handle 70, latch release button 86 is manually pressed toward the interior of the lock body, to move the shuttle 83 to a second, latch releasing position. Latch release 86 includes a correspondingly-angled face 87 for mating with shuttle angled face 85, such that when latch release 86 is depressed, the angled mating surfaces 85, 87 of the latch release 86 and shuttle 83, respectively, convert the transverse motion of the latch release button 86 into downward vertical motion of the shuttle 83, thereby compressing spring 82 and pulling projection 84 downward, releasing the projection from handle detent 76 and allowing the handle to be rotated to an unlocked position (
As further shown in
The present invention achieves a low profile casement window lock that far exceeds the profile depth of casement window locks of the prior art by introducing a restrictor to present a “three bar” linkage between the handle, restrictor, and actuator element. The handle drives the movement of the actuator element, which translates within a longitudinal slot in the casing in a direction opposite movement of the handle. The restrictor arm redirects the pivot points of the handle to work in combination with the actuator element to reduce the casing profile. The present invention establishes a locking structure with multiple pivoting points that allows the handle to rotate approximately 150° with minimally required clearance in the casing or housing. The pivoting action of the handle and restrictor arm allows the handle to move the fork component horizontally while raising or lowering the restrictor arm pivot pin in relation to the fork component, with the fork component in slidable communication with a longitudinal slot in a sidewall of the casing. The multiple pivoting action provides for a three bar linkage that secures the casement window lock in either the open, unlocked position, or closed, locked position, and prevents back driving the lock mechanism in the reverse direction.
While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with specific embodiment(s), it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications, and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Thus, having described the invention, what is claimed is:
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Child | 15625596 | US |