Method for locking a window's outer sash and a lock fitting

Abstract

 In the locking method for a window's outer sash according to the invention the outer sash is locked into a stationary position by pressing the outer sash with the aid of a locking member against a frame profile on the outer surface of the window's frame. As the locking member the method utilises a lock fitting, which comprises a side part (10) substantially entirely countersunk into the window frame and a movable inner part (12) arranged within the side part. The side part contains a cylindrical wall (14) and a flange (16) at the end of the wall. The inner part has on one surface a disk-like piston (28) with a turning handle (30) for moving the inner part. By rotating the turning handle the inner part can be moved into an upper position where the turning handle is substantially entirely outside the side part, and into a lower position where the turning handle is substantially entirely within the side part. When the inner part is in the upper position, the end of the turning handle rests on the outer sash thereby preventing the sash from opening in the direction of the lock fitting. When one wants to open the window the inner part is moved into the side part, whereby the sash can be freely opened. In order to raise and lower the inner part the side part's wall has at least one groove (18) and the inner part has a pin (34) arranged in the groove and arranged to move within the groove. Thus a rotation of the turning handle causes the inner part to move in the direction of the central axis of the side part, guided by the pin and the groove. A lock fitting according to the invention is mounted in a circular mounting hole drilled in the window's frame.

Description

[0001] The object of the present invention is a method for locking a window's outer sash, which can be opened, into a stationary position, in which method the outer sash is pressed by a locking member against a frame profile on the outer surface of the window frame. An object of the invention is also a lock fitting for the window's outer sash and a window provided with a lock fitting according to the invention.

[0002] Windows currently used in residential buildings are in most cases windows, which can be opened and which have three or four panes with separate inner and outer sashes. The outer sash and the inner sash are attached with hinges to the frame portion. If the window has a third sash, a so-called intermediate sash, then usually it is attached to the inner sash with the aid of hinges. When the window is closed, then the inner sash is locked to the frame portion with the aid of a lock fitting. A lock fitting comprises a body part fastened to the sash portion, and a counterpart fastened to the frame portion. The body part of the lock fitting includes a latching tongue, which can be turned out from the body part with the aid of a handle. The handle can be detachable, or it can be permanently fastened to the sash. As the handle is turned the latching tongue turns into a groove in the counterpart and locks the sash into its place.

[0003] The outer sash of the window can be locked into its place in a manner similar to that of the inner sash, i.e. by using lock fittings. Another known locking method is to attach a pin to the outer sash, which pin points towards the inner sash, and whose end abuts the surface of the inner sash when the inner sash is in the locked position. The pin is dimensioned so that when the inner sash is pushed into the closed position the pin will push the outer sash so that it is pressed against the frame profile on the outer surface of the window. Thus, when the inner sash is locked with the aid of the lock fittings the outer sash at the same time is locked into a stationary position.

[0004] The known prior art locking methods for the outer sash of a window have many disadvantages. In order to mount the lock fitting it is necessary to tool a recess in the outer sash for the body part, and a corresponding recess in the frame portion for the counterpart. The recesses made in the narrow outer sash will of course reduce the strength of the sash. In addition the counterpart and its recess can accumulate dust or rubbish, which may reduce the usability of the locking. The latch tongue of the outer sash may bend due to the effects of wind, and thus it may reduce the tightness and cause clatter. The latch tongue may even brake or twist. The recesses made for the mentioned parts have an oblong form, so they must be made by routing or by several drilled holes. The installation work also requires high precision in order to make the outer sash tightly abut the frame profile in the locked position. Further, the outer sashes are nowadays often made of aluminium profile, which means that in the installation work one must use tools suitable for metal tooling. Thus the fastening of lock fittings is a relatively difficult and expensive operation.

[0005] As the pins support the outer sash against the inner sash the wind load acting on the outer sash is as such transferred to the inner sash. In this way the wind causes additional load on the inner sash, which must be considered as an increased number of lock fittings on the inner sash. Thus the inner sash will have "extra" visible parts of lock fittings, such as handle holes and their cover plates, which have an negative effect on the window's appearance. The length of the pins connecting the sashes must be exactly correct in order to make the outer sash locking to operate in the desired way. Too long pins will cause extra press stresses to the sashes, which then can cause twisting of the sashes, and even breaking of the glass. Correspondingly, too short pins will enable the outer sash to have a slight movement back and forth, whereby the sash can cause an annoying clatter even in a modest wind. In addition the pins in the intermediate space between the sashes can make it more difficult to locate e.g. Venetian blinds in the window, and they also have a negative effect on the window's appearance.

[0006] Thus the object of the present invention is to provide a new method for locking a window's outer sash into its place, and a lock fitting with a new structure for the outer sash of a window. The method and the lock fitting according to the invention can remarkably reduce the disadvantages and problems related to the known locking methods of a window's outer sash.

[0007] In order to attain the objects of the invention the method and the lock fitting according to the invention are characterised in what is defined in the characterising parts of the independent claims presented below. Some advantageous embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

[0008] In a typical locking method according to the present invention for a window's outer sash, the outer sash is locked into a stationary state by pressing the outer sash with the aid of a locking member against a stop face on the outer surface of the window's frame, advantageously against a frame profile. As the locking member the method utilises a lock fitting, which is substantially entirely countersunk into the window's frame. In the locking phase the inner part of the lock fitting is raised partly out from the frame, whereby the outer sash is locked into its place.

[0009] The basic idea of a typical lock fitting according to the invention for a window's outer sash is that the lock fitting comprises a side part, which is substantially entirely countersunk into the window's frame, and a movable inner part arranged within the side part. When the sash is locked into its place the inner part is raised partly out from the side part. Then the inner part is pressed against the surface of the outer sash, which prevents the sash from opening into the direction of the lock fitting. When one wants to open the window one moves the inner part into the side part, and the sash can be freely opened.

[0010] In a typical lock fitting according to the invention the side part comprises a wall having a cylindrical form, and the inner part comprises a disk-like piston having on one surface a turning handle for gripping the inner part and moving it. By rotating the turning handle the inner part can be moved into the upper position, where the turning handle is substantially entirely outside the side part, and into a bottom position, where the turning handle is substantially entirely within the side part.

[0011] In addition a lock fitting according to the invention has in the wall portion of its side part typically at least one groove, and the piston of the inner part has a pin, which is arranged in the groove and arranged to move within the groove in order to move the inner part in the direction of the side part's central axis as the inner part is rotated.

[0012] A lock fitting according to the invention is characterised in that the groove in the wall of the side part comprises a lower horizontal groove at a constant distance from the first end of the side part, an upper horizontal groove at a constant distance from the second end of the side part, and an oblique groove connecting the first and second horizontal grooves and extending obliquely from the first end of the side part to the second end of the side part.

[0013] An advantage of the method and lock fitting according to the invention is that the outer sash can be reliably locked into its place without installation or tooling operations in the outer sash.

[0014] An additional advantage of the invention is that the lock fitting can be easily and rapidly installed. During installation only one mounting hole is made in the window's frame, and the lock fitting is pushed into its place in this hole.

[0015] A further advantage of an embodiment according to an advantageous embodiment example of the invention is that the locking provided by the lock fitting is very reliable, because the dimension of the turning handle which locks the outer sash in its place is exactly in the direction of the force acting on the handle.

[0016] A further advantage of the invention is that the lock fitting does not substantially impair the appearance of the window, and it does not pose any hindrance to other installations in the window, such as Venetian blinds.

[0017] A further advantage of the invention is that it is easy to correct any inaccuracies created in the installation of the lock fitting.

[0018] Further, in a preferred embodiment according to the invention the locking does not require the use of a separate key.

[0019] The invention is described below in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows in a front view an example and schematically an outer sash lock fitting according to the invention as seen obliquely from above, and

Figures 2a and 2b show as examples and schematically an outer sash lock fitting according to the invention when it is installed in a window.

[0020] Figure 1 shows in a front view an example of a lock fitting according to the invention as seen obliquely from above. The lock fitting comprises a side part 10 with a cylindrical form and an inner part 12 arranged within the side part. In figure 1 the side part and the inner part are shown separated from each other in order to better present the shape and structure of the components.

[0021] The side part 10 has a cylindrical wall 14 with an outer diameter of advantageously about 40 mm. The height of the wall in the direction of the side part's longitudinal axis is advantageously about 27 mm, and its thickness is advantageously 2.5 mm. The second end of the side part has a ring-like flange 16 along the perimeter of the wall's edge, whereby the thickness and width of the flange is advantageously 1 mm and 4.5 mm, respectively. A normal drawn to the flange's surface forms a substantially right angle with a normal to the side part's wall.

[0022] The wall 14 of the side part has a groove 18, which extends through the wall and comprises four consecutive portions. The groove begins with a vertical groove 20, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the side part, from the first end of the side part towards the second end. The length of the vertical groove is advantageously about 7 mm. After the vertical groove there is a lower horizontal groove 22, which follows the wall in the horizontal direction, i.e. the distance from the horizontal groove to the first and second ends of the side part is constant. After the horizontal groove there is an oblique groove 24, which rises along the wall as it extends obliquely towards the second end of the bottom part. At the end of the groove 18 there is an upper horizontal groove 26, which follows along the wall in the same manner as the lower horizontal groove, at a constant distance from both ends of the side part.

[0023] The length of the oblique groove 24 is such that lines drawn from the central axis of the cylindrical side part to the ends of the oblique groove form between them an angle α in the plane of the flange 16, the angle being advantageously 90 degrees. The straight lines drawn from the central axis of the side part to the ends of the upper and lower horizontal grooves form angles β and γ, which advantageously are equal and preferably about 30 degrees. The distance between the lower horizontal groove 22 and the upper horizontal groove in the direction of the central axis of the bottom part 10 is advantageously about 12 mm. The width of the groove 18 is advantageously about 4 mm, and it remains substantially constant over the entire length of the groove.

[0024] The inner part 12 of the lock fitting comprises a circular disk-like piston 28 with an advantageous thickness of about 15 mm. A turning handle 30 is arranged on the upper surface of the piston for turning it. The turning handle is a plate-like projection rising from the surface level of the piston and extending from one edge of the piston substantially to the other edge of the piston in the same manner as the diameter of the piston. The turning handle 30 can also be shorter, so that it extends from the first edge towards the second edge. The essential thing is that the piston can be shaped with a locking surface 31, which is positioned against the outer sash to be locked. The height of the turning handle in the direction of a normal of the upper surface of the piston is advantageously about 12 mm. The second end of the turning handle is substantially wider than its other parts. Advantageously the width of the turning handle is about 5 mm at the first end and the central part, and about 10 mm at the second end, as seen from above. Roughened portions 32 are advantageously arranged on the side surfaces of the turning handle, which facilitates a good grip on the turning handle.

[0025] The cylindrical outer surface of the piston 28 has a pin 34 with a diameter, which substantially equals the width of the groove 18 in the side part 10, i.e. about 4 mm.

[0026] The pin is substantially as long as or slightly shorter than the thickness of the side part's wall 14. When the lock fitting is operative the inner part 12 is located within the side part 10, so that the pin 34 on the piston 28 is located in the groove 18. The inner part is easily mounted from below, as the vertical groove 20 extends down to the first end of the side part's wall. The diameter of the piston is dimensioned so that the piston will fit tightly in the side part, however so that a clearance is left between the inner surface of the side part and the outer surface of the piston, which enables rotation of the piston. When the turning handle is turned the piston rotates within the side part 10, within the limits set by the groove 18. When the pin 34 is at the oblique groove 24 it forces the inner part to move upwards or downwards during rotation of the inner part 12. The pin is located on the wall of the piston 28, so that when the pin is in the upper horizontal groove 26 the turning handle will come out from the inner part so that it is almost entirely visible. At the same time the top surface of the piston and the flange 16 of the side part will be located in the same plane and form a uniform smooth surface. Correspondingly, when the inner part is turned into a position where the pin is located in the lower horizontal groove, the turning handle 30 will entirely sink within the side part 10.

[0027] Figure 1 shows only one advantageous embodiment of the lock fitting according to the invention. The lock fitting can be realized in many different ways following the inventive idea. For instance, the side parts can have several grooves, and correspondingly the piston can have several pins, which ride in the grooves. A groove must not necessarily penetrate the side part's wall, as long as it is so deep that there is room for the pin to move in it. It is also not necessary that the pin 34 is a fixed part of the piston, but it can be a loose component, which is located in a hole in the piston. Small bumps can be made in the upper and lower horizontal grooves so that these bumps "lock" the inner part in its position when the inner part has been turned into a position where the pin 34 is located between the bumps. The lock fitting according to the invention can be advantageously made of plastics or metal. It is also possible to make the components of the lock fitting of different materials. The sizes and dimensions of the lock fitting's components may differ from that shown in the figures.

[0028] Figures 2a and 2b show in cross sections a part of a window, where a lock fitting according to the invention presented in figure 1 is mounted in its place in the window. The cross sections are taken at that point of the window's frame 40, where the lock fitting is mounted. The lock fitting is mounted in its place by drilling a mounting hole 42 in the direction of the normal of the surface of the frame in that portion of the frame, which is between the inner sash 44 and the outer sash 46, whereby the diameter of the hole substantially equals the outer diameter of the lock fitting's side part 10. The mounting hole is drilled adjacent the outer sash, so that its perimeter is substantially tangential to a line in the direction of the inner surface of the outer sash 46. Then the lock fitting is pressed into its place in the mounting hole, so deep that the flange 16 tightly abuts the inner surface of the frame 40. The mounting hole must of course be sufficiently deep, so that the lock fitting can sink into said depth. The lock fitting is mounted in the frame in a position where that portion of the side part, which comprises the upper horizontal groove 26, will be located closest to the outer sash 46. When required the side part can be fixed into the mounting hole with the aid of glue or any mechanic fastening means.

[0029] Figure 2a shows the lock fitting in the locking position where it locks the window's outer sash 46 into a stationary position against the frame profile 48 on the outer surface of the frame 40. In the locking position the inner part 12 of the lock fitting is turned with the aid of the turning handle 30 into a position where the pin 34 is located in the upper horizontal groove 26. Then the inner part 12 has risen into the upper position where the turning handle 30 is entirely above the level of the flange 16, and the locking surface 31 of the turning handle 30 abuts the outer sash. Thus the outer sash will be located in the grip between the frame profile 48 and the wider end of the turning handle, and thus it is locked in a stationary position. When one wants to open the window, the turning handle 30 of the inner part 12 is turned 90 degrees. Then the inner part 12 will sink into its lower position within the side part, in the manner shown in figure 2b. The turning handle remains then entirely below the level of the flange 16, and thus it does not prevent opening of the window.

[0030] Figures 2a and 2b present only one outer sash 46 lock fitting according to the invention. The number of lock fittings in one window is of course as high as required by a reliable locking of the outer sash. Thus lock fittings can be located both in the horizontal parts and in the vertical parts of the frame. If the mounting hole 42 by mistake is drilled too far from the outer sash it is possible to mount a thin profile on the inner surface of the outer sash at the position of the lock fitting, so that the profile eliminates the gap between the end of the turning handle and the inner surface of the outer sash, which was caused by the installation inaccuracy (no profile is shown in the figures). On the other hand, if the mounting hole is too close to the outer sash it is possible to remove material from the turning handle, so that the turning handle will have room to rotate tightly against the outer sash.

[0031] The basic idea of the outer sash locking method according to the invention is that the outer sash is locked into a stationary position by such components, which are fastened only to the window frame. A method according to the invention can use lock fittings of different structures. An advantageous embodiment of a lock fitting used in the method comprises a body portion, which is countersunk into a recess tooled in the window frame, and a tongue, which is pivotally attached to the body part. When one desires to lock the outer sash into its position the tongue is turned so that it will come out from the side part, whereby it is abuts the inner surface of the outer sash and locks the outer sash into its position. Correspondingly, when one wants to open the window, the tongue is turned into the side part, whereby the locking of the outer sash is released.

[0032] Above we described advantageous embodiments of the method and device according to the invention. The invention is not limited to the solutions described above, but the inventive idea can be applied in numerous different ways within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for locking a window's outer sash (46), which can be opened, into a stationary position, in which method the outer sash is pressed by a locking member against an abutment surface, advantageously a frame profile (48) on the outer surface of the window frame (40), which method as the locking member utilises a lock fitting which lock fitting comprises a side part (10) that is substantially entirely countersunk into the window's frame (40) and a movable inner part (12) arranged within the side part, and where the inner part of said lock fitting can be lifted partly out from within the frame, whereby the side part (10) comprises a cylindrical wall (14) and the inner part (12) comprises a disk-like piston (28), and whereby the side part's (10) wall (14) contains at least one groove (18) and the piston (28) of the inner part (12) has a pin (34) arranged in the groove and arranged to move within the groove in order to move the inner part in the direction of the side part's central axis as the inner part is rotated, characterised in that the groove (18) comprises a lower horizontal groove (22) at a constant distance from the first end of the side part (10), an upper horizontal groove (26) at a constant distance from the second end of the side part, and an oblique groove (24) connecting the first and second horizontal grooves and extending obliquely from the first end of the side part to the second end of the side part.

2. A lock fitting of a window's outer sash (46), which lock fitting comprises a side part (10) to be substantially entirely countersunk into the window's frame (40) and a movable inner part (12) arranged within the side part, whereby the inner part can be partly lifted out from the side part, and whereby the side part (10) comprises a cylindrical wall (14) and the inner part (12) comprises a disk-like piston (28), and whereby the side part's (10) wall (14) contains at least one groove (18) and the piston (28) of the inner part (12) has a pin (34) arranged in the groove and arranged to move within the groove in order to move the inner part in the direction of the side part's central axis as the inner part is rotated, characterised in that the groove (18) comprises a lower horizontal groove (22) at a constant distance from the first end of the side part (10), an upper horizontal groove (26) at a constant distance from the second end of the side part, and an oblique groove (24) connecting the first and second horizontal grooves and extending obliquely from the first end of the side part to the second end of the side part.

3. A lock fitting according to claim 2, characterised in that one surface of said disk-like piston (28) contains a turning handle (30) for the gripping and moving of the inner part.

4. A lock fitting according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that by rotating the turning handle (30) the inner part (12) can be turned into an upper position, where the turning handle (30) is substantially entirely outside the side part (10), and into a lower position, where the turning handle is substantially entirely within the side part.

5. A lock fitting according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the surface of the turning handle is provided with a roughened portion (32) and that one end of the turning handle is provided with a wider portion.

6. A window with a frame (40), an abutment surface, advantageously a frame profile (48) on the outer surface of the frame, an outer sash (46) attached to the frame so that it can be opened, and at least one locking member for pressing the outer sash against the abutment surface, advantageously a frame profile, whereby said locking member is a lock fitting, which comprises a side part (10), which can be countersunk substantially entirely into the window's frame (40), and a movable inner part (12) arranged within the side part, whereby the inner part can be partly raised out from the side part, whereby the side part (10) comprises a cylindrical wall (14) and the inner part (12) comprises a disk-like piston (28), and whereby the side part's (10) wall (14) contains at least one groove (18) and the piston (28) of the inner part (12) has a pin (34) arranged in the groove and arranged to move within the groove in order to move the inner part in the direction of the side part's central axis as the inner part is rotated, characterised in that the groove (18) comprises a lower horizontal groove (22) at a constant distance from the first end of the side part (10), an upper horizontal groove (26) at a constant distance from the second end of the side part, and an oblique groove (24) connecting the first and second horizontal grooves and extending obliquely from the first end of the side part to the second end of the side part.

7. A window according to claim 6, characterised in that the inner part (12) contains a turning handle (30) for moving the inner part, and that by rotating the turning handle the inner part (12) can be moved into an upper position where the turning handle (30) is substantially entirely outside the side part (10) and into a lower position where the turning handle (30) is substantially entirely within the side part.

8. A window according to claim 7, characterised in that the lock fitting is mounted in the window's frame so that one end of the turning handle (30) is located against the surface of the outer sash (46) when the inner part (12) is in its upper position.

9. A window according to any previous claim 6 to 8, characterised in that the lock fitting is mounted in a circular mounting hole (42) drilled in the frame (40).

Drawing