AU668723B2 - Sliding panel locking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

23 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: JEFFREY NORMAN PUTLAND 48 Sydenham Road Doubleview 6018 Western Australia Australia Jeffrey Norman Putland Griffith Hack Co.

256 Adelaide Terrace Perth 6000 We certify that this and the Western Australivfliowing e. pages are Australia a true and correot copy of the original Specification.

o o o o o o oo o co o o os oea oo o oo o D oc oao P II4 Standard Co nplete Specification for the invention enitle SLIDING PANEL LOCKING MECHANISM Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PL2762 filed June 2, 1992 by J.N. Putland Details of Parent Application for Divisional Applications: The following is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:i Iii ci i-I I II~ 4P 1111~3- 11~-- C 2 2 SLIDING PANEL LOCKING MECHANISM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a sliding panel and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a locking mechanism for a sliding window or sliding door.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In recent years people have become increasingly security conscious as the incidence of theft and assaults on persons has increased. This is particularly true of the home, once considered relatively safe and secure. A wide range of measures designed to improve home security have been promoted including electronic surveillance and alarm devices, improved door locks and window locks and the use of security screens. The problem of security is also 00 exacerbated by the modular design of windows and doors in oeao ooo. modern homes. Lightweight aluminium frames are now used 0.0 a where hard wood frames were traditionally employed.

oa:, Aluminium frame sliding windows are now installed almost eo 20 universally in new homes.

A problem with aluminium type sliding windows and °.00 doors is that they can often be readily removed from the 0 0 supporting frame by simply lifting the window or door of its runner. Locks are generally of the simple latch kind 000 °25 that are easily circumvented. One solution to this 0o0, security problem is to provide external window and door locks of the type having a retractable pin and that are typically located adjacent the top and/or bottom of the S0 window frame or door frame. The lock is operated to cause the retractable pin to project into an aperture or recess orovided in the window or door frame. A disadvantage of this type of lock is that it must typically be retrofitted and is therefore generally separate from the normal closure mechanism. This means that two or three mechanisms must be operated independently in order to open the window or door.

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Is L C P 3 -I A second disadvantage is that this type of lock is often difficult to install, and if the aperture in the supporting frame is not precisely aligned with the retractable pin, the lock fails to provide effective security against intruders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The locking mechanism of the present invention was developed to provide more effective security for sliding panels, such as sliding windows and doors.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking mechanism for locking an aluminium type sliding window or door in a fixed position in a supporting frame within which the window or door is slidably received, the window or door being of the type having a glass pane with a hollow support member extending along one side thereof, the locking mechanism comprising: first and second elongate members each pivotally connected at one end to a rotatable actuating member at first and secnd pivotal connections respectively, said pivotal connections being offset from a central axis of rotation of 20 said actuating member whereby rotation of said actuating member can cause both said first and second elongate members oaoa 0 0 to move substantially perpendicularly to the direction of 0o0 sliding movement of the window or door within the supporting o frame, between a locked position and an unlocked position, each of said elongate members being adapted to protrude from a respective edge of the window or door for engagement with the supporting frame in said locked position and to disengage o from the supporting frame in said unlocked position, and wherein said elongate members and actuating member are adapted to be substantially wholly housed within the confines of said hollow support member; and, Sta key-operated lock for locking said first and second elongate members in the locked position, a barrel of the lock being located co-axially with the central axis of rotation of said actuating member and being mechanically coupled thereto so that turning of the lock barrel can cause

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j 0 'n/dArJ Ou! -4said actuating member to rotate which, in turn, causes said first and second elongate members to move.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an aluminium type sliding window or door having a locking mechanism for locking the window or door in a fixed position in a supporting frame within which the window or door is slidably received, the window or door comprising: a glass pane; hollow support member extending along one side of the glass pane substantially perpendicularly to the direction of sliding movement of the window or door within the supporting frame; said locking mechanism comprising: first and second elongate members each pivotally connected at one end to a rotatable actuating member at first and second pivotal connections respectively, said pivotal connections being offset from a central axis of rotation of ooc said actuating member whereby rotation of said actuating 0 member can cause both said first and second elongate members oo to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, 000 20 each of said elongate members being adapted to protrude from a *a respective edge of the window or door for engagement with C the supporting frame in said locked position and to disengage from the supporting frame in said unlocked position, and wherein said elongate members and actuating member are 25 substantially wholly housed within the confines of said 0 hollow support member; and, a key-operated lock for locking said first and second elongate members in the locked position, a barrel of the lock being located co-axially with th, 8 central axis of rotation of said actuating member and being mechanically coupled thereto so that turning of the lock barrel can cause said actuating member to rotate which, in turn, causes said first and second elongate members to move.

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i 5 Preferably each of said first and second elongate members is in the form of a substantially rigid rod, the free end of said rod being adapted to be received in its locked position in a matching recess in the supporting frame.

In order to facilitate a better understanding of the nature of the paesent invention a preferred embodiment of the sliding panel locking mechanism will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the following description is given with particular reference to a sliding window, it is to be understood that the term "sliding panel" is intended to embrace other structures, such as, for example, a sliding door, in which a panel slides between an open and closed position in a supporting frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 illustrates the application of one form of the locking mechanism to a sliding window; o 20 Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the locking mechanism of Figure 1 in an unlocked and a locked position respectively; Figure 4 is an enlarged section view through the line A-A in Figure 1; and, Figure 5 is an enlarged section view through a bottom track of a sliding window.

4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 is a partial cut-away view illustrating the location of a locking mechanism 10 for locking a sliding panel, in this case a sliding window 12, in a fixed position in a supporting frame 14 within which the sliding window 12 is slidably received. The locking mechanism comprises a rotatable locking means 16 to which first and second elongate members 18, 20 are pivotally connected at one end (see Figures 2 and In the illustrated embodiment, the rotatable locking means 10 comprises a key- 6 operated lock 22. The keyhole 24 of the key-operated lock 22 is normally the only visible component of the locking mechanism 10, since the remainder of the locking mechanism is housed substantially within the confines of a hollow member 26 extending along one side of the sliding window 12 substantially perpendicularly to a direction in which the sliding window 12 is slid within the supporting frame 14.

Also visible in Figure 1 is a handle 27 which is fitted externally of hollow member 26 surrounding the keyhole 24 of the key-operated lock 22. Handle 27 includes a recessed grip portion 29 in which the fingers of an operator's hand can be inserted to effect sliding movement of the sliding window 12. The handle 27 may be manufactured from any suitable material in known manner, for example, from injected moulded plastics material.

By operating the key-operated lock 22 both the first and second elongate members 18 are caused to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. In Figure 1, the elongate members are illustrated in a locked position in which both elongate members i8, 20 protrude from an edge of the sliding window 12 for engagement with the supporting frame 14. Matching recesses 28 are provided in the supporting window frame 14 for receiving the free ends of the elongate members 18, 20 therein. Preferably a plurality of such matching recesses are provided at spaced intervals along a length of the two horizontal support members of the window frame 14, so that the window 12 can be locked in a fixed position at a plurality of lL ations in the window frame. In this way, the sliding window 12 can be locked in a partly open position, as well as in its fully closed position.

The configuration and operation of the locking mechanism 10 will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

In Figures 2 and 3 it can be seen that the rotatable locking means 16 further comprises an actuating member in the form of disk 30 which is fastened directly to 7 the barrel of the key-operated lock 22 (not visible in Figures 2 and 3) by means of screw 31. The first and second elongate members 18, 20 are pivotally connected to the disk 30 at first and second pivotal connections 32, 34 respectively. The pivotal connections 32, 34 are simple pin connections provided by, for example, rivets or by nuts and bolts passing through apertures provided in the respective ends of the elongate members 18, 20 and the disk Alternatively, nylon pins could be used.

The pivotal connections 32, 34 are offset from a central axis of rotation of the disk 30 of the rotatable locking means 16, so th. cotation of the actuating disk about said central axis causes both the first and second elongate members 18, 20 to move in opposite directions substantially parallel to the sides of the hollow member 26. In this way, turning of the lock barrel of keyoperated lock 22 causes the actuating disk 30 to pivot which, in turn, causes both the first and second elongate members 18, 20 to move between their locked and unlocked positions. Each of the first and second elongate members 18, 20 is in the form of a substantially rigid rod, the free end of each rod being adapted to be received in its locked position in a matching recess in the supporting frame 14 (not illustrated in Figures 2 and 3).

First and second guides 36, 38 are provided at the respective ends of the hollow member 26 for guiding the 0 rods 18, 20 between their locked and unlocked positions.

The guides 36, 38 are provided with a central bore therethrough having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the respective rods 18, 20, so that the free ends of the respective rods can freely slide therethrough. In their unlocked position, as illustrated in Figure 2, only rod 18 protrudes from guide 36 at the end of the hollow member 26 of the sliding window. However, in the locked position the free ends of both the rods 18, protrude from the respective guides 36, 38 at the ends of the hollow member 26, in order to engage matching recesses 8 provided in the supporting frame as illustrated in Figure 1. The reason rod 18 still protrudes a short distance above guide 36 in its unlocked position, is to prevent the sliding window from being easily lifted out of its frame, even when the rotatable locking means 16 is unlocked.

There is typically a gap between the upper edge of the window 12 and the supporting frame 14. In its unlocked position rod 18 does not extend far enough into this gap to engage in the matching recess in the supporting frame, however it does extend sufficiently far to prevent the window from being lifted off its track and removed from the frame. The only way the window can be removed from its frame is to align the rod 18 in its unlocked position with one of the matching recesses in the supporting frame and then to lift the window so that rod 18 enters the recess.

The bottom of the window can then be removed from its track, and the whole window is then lowered out of the frame so that the rod 18 disengages the recess. Having the free end of rod 18 protruding even in its unlocked position, also ensures that it has less distance to travel in order to engage a matching recess 28 and therefore will extend a maximum distance into the upper window frame when in its locked position.

The distance that the free ends of the rods 18, 20 protrude from the top and bottom edges of the sliding V window in the locked position is largely determined by the diameter of the actuating disk 30, since it is effectively equal to the distance separating the first and second pivotal connections 32, 34. This may be readily seen by S. 30 comparing the relative positions of the pivotal connections 32, 34 in Figures 2 and 3 respectively. It will be seen that when the rods 18, 20 are moved from the unlocked to their locked positions by rotation of the rotatable locking means 16, the actuating disk 30 rotates through approximately 1800 so that the first and second pivotal connections 32, 34 are effectively transposed.

In the embodiment of the locking mechanism 10 as 9

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oa 68 00 44 'oa illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the elongate members or rods 18, 20 are provided with an elbow adjacent the pivotal connections 32, 34 so as to avoid fouling of the rods with the pivotal connections. The maximum diameter of the actuating disk 30 is limited by the inside dimensions of the hollow member 26. The larger the inside width dimension of the hollow member 26, the larger the diameter of the actuating disk 30 can be made and hence the distance of travel of the rods 18, 20 can be increased. It is desirable to have a substantial length of the rods 18, protruding from the edges of the sliding window 12 in order to minimise the possibility of forcing the window open by bending or otherwise causing the free ends of the rods 18, to lift out of the matching recesses 28 provided in the window frame.

Advantageously, the window frame 14 is provided with a plurality of detents spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the recesses 28, and designed to enable the user of the window to sense when the member 26 of the window is properly positioned in the window frame 14 so that the rods 18, 20 are correctly aligned with the matching recesses 28. In this way, the sliding window 12 can be slid to the desired position and fixed in position by turning the key- operated lock with minimum effort.

The guides 36, 38 provided at each end of the hollow member 26 of the sliding window are typically manufactured of a suitable plastics material, for example, nylon in order to minimise friction between the rods 18, and the guides. The rods 18, 20 can be manufactured from any suitably rigid material, for example, metal and/or plastics material. Likewise the actuating disk 30 can aiso be manufactured from any suitably rigid material, for example, pressed metal.

The locking mechanism 10 can be readily installed during the normal manufacturing process of the sliding window 12. Hollow member 26 is typically an aluminium box section of one-piece construction. The rotatable locking j~

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10 means 16 with the rods 18, 20 connected thereto can be inserted through one end of the hollow member 26, which is provided with a suitably sized and positioned aperture adapted to receive the key-operated lock 22. When the keyoperated lock 22 is aligned with this aperture it is drawn through and can be, for example, snap-locked into position.

The guides 36, 38 are then inserted into the respective ends of the hollow member 26 with the free ends of the rods 18, 20 slidably received in the respective bores therein.

The guides 36, 38 may be retained in the respective ends of the member 26 by a tight friction fit, or alternatively may be held therein by suitab'le fastening means, for example, by glue or rivets.

Figure 4 illustrates more clearly how substantially the entire locking mechanism 10 is housed within the confines of the hollow aluminium section 26 of o. the sliding window 12. Figure 4 is a section view through the line A-A in Figure 1 (not to scale), and shows how the 0 okey-operated lock 22, actuating disk 30 and rods 18, 20 pivotally connected tnereto are located within the iiarrow o confines of hollow section 26. Only the keyhole 24 is visible outside the hollow section 26. Wedged between the I keyhole fascia and the outer surface of hollow section 26 is a planar section of handle 2'7. An annular raised portion 31 is provided on planar section 27 for receiving part of the barrel of lock 22. The fascia of keyhole 24 is almost flush with the top edge of raised portion 31. In this way, if the barrel of lock 22 is too long to fit entirely within the confines of hollow section 26, it can be partly accommodated within the plastics moulding for h~Lndle 27. The recessed grip portion 29 is also clearly visible in Figure 4. The entire locking mechanism 10 can be housed within hollow section 26 due to its simple and low-profile design. Disk 30 and the pivotal connections 32, 34 of rods 20, 18 respectively can be made to a minimum thickness dimension. The barrel oi key lock 22 is the bulkiest item, however key locks having a barrel of the 14 I

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being the applicant in respect of this Application state the following:- 11 required dimensions are readily available. With this arrangement, a locking mechanism 10 according to the invention can be accommodated inside a hollow section with inside dimensions as small as 25 x 9mm or smaller. This allows approximately 5mm for the glass and 20mm for the locking mechanism.

If the hollow member 26 is of two-piece construction, for example, having a channel and a cover plate which is connected to the channel by sliding the two pieces together and/or by a snap-lock, insertion of the locking mechanism is further simplified. The entire locking mechanism, including guides 36, 38 can be placed in the channel section of the hollow member 26, and then the cover plate can be connected thereto to enclose the entire mechanism within the hollow member 26.

By providing first and second elongate members which protrude from an edge of the sliding panel for engagement with the supporting frame in the locked position, the locking mechanism of the present invention provides improved security since the sliding panel, fcr example, sliding window 12, cannot be removed from the window frame 14 by lifting it off its runner or otherwise S- manipulating the window within its frame, as is possible with conventional sliding windows. Once the rotatable locking means 16 is rotated to cause the rods 18, 20 to 44"*protrude from the respective edges of the sliding window, it is not possible to remove the window from its supporting frame without destroying the window and/or the supporting 4 frame.

In some applications it may be undesirable to provide matching recesses 28 in the bottom track of the supporting frame, for fear that water may accumulate in the track and enter the wall cavity through the recesses.

Figure 5 illustrates an arrangement for the bottom track which avoids the need for the free end of rod 20 to penetrate into the underlying sill or masonry of the window or door f.ame. The bottom track 50 is provided with a I I r I i( 12 raised runner 52 having a rounded profile. Preferably, the window is provided with two or more running wheels 54 which ride on runner 52 and slidably support window 12. Recesses (not visible) are provided in the top of runner 52 for receiving the free end of rod 20 therein. Hence water can accumulate on either side of runner 52 but cannot penetrate into the underlying window sill.

The above-described embodiment of the locking mechanism for a sliding panel has a number of distinct advantages compared to known sliding window and door locks: it provided improved security against unauthorised entry (ii) it is of compact construction and can easily be accommodated within existing hollow window and door sections (iii) it is simple to manufacture and assemble, having few components (iv) it is inexpensive to manufacture a hollow member with the locking mechanism incorporated therein is easy to retrofit to existing sliding windows and doors.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the locking mechanism according to the present invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to thoze skilled in the relevant manufacturing arts that numerous variations and modifications can be made to the described embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic principles of the invention. For example, the preferred embodiment of the locking mechanism 10 can be readily modified to suit a sliding door or other sliding panel.. Furthermore, the locking mechanism can also be used in a horizontal configuration to suit, for example, a vertical sliding window. Although, in the described embodiment, the key-operated lock 22 is connected directly via its barrel to the actuating disk 30, in an alternative

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;r 13 embodiment the key-operated lock may be mechanically coupled to the actuating disk 30 indirectly by any suitable mechanical coupling. For example the rotatable locking means 16 may further comprise a rotatable handle to facilitate easier rotation of the actuating disk 30, the handle being provided with a key-operated lock therein.

The key-operated lock is used to lock the hanale in position, and it is the handle which is directly connected to the actuating disk In the illustrated embodiments, the elongate members or rods 18, 20 move in substantially parallel directions, so as to engage with facing members of the window frame 14. However, in an alternative embodiment the elongate members or rods 18, 20 may move in substantially perpendicular directions so as to engage with mutually perpendicular frame members of the supporting frame 14.

Indeed, -he locking mechanism 10 may have two or more members actuated by rotation of the rotatable locking means, For example, in addition to first and second elongate members as illustrated in the above-described o embodiments the locking mechanism may further comprise a third elongate member extending in a direction 1 substantially perpendicular to the two elongate members 18, G~lA and designed to engage with a third frame meinber of a 25 supporting frame. Such a third elongate member would 0 00 0o0 provide increased security when the sliding window is in its fully closed position. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the 000 0 present invention, the nature of which is to be determined 30 from the foregoing description and the appended claims. a oo 30 from the foregoing description and the appended claims.

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Claims (14)

1. A locking mechanism for locking an aluminium type sliding window or door in a fixed position in a supporting frame within which the window or door is slidably received, the window or door being of the type having a glass pane with a hollow support member extending along one side thereof, the locking mechanism comprising: first and second elongate members each pivotally connected at one end to a rotatable actuating member at first and second pivotal connections respectively, said pivotal connections being offset from a central axis of rotation of said actuating member whereby rotation of said actuating member can cause both said first and second elongate members to move substantially perpendicularly to the direction of sliding movement of the window or door within the supporting frame, between a locked position and an unlocked position, each of said elongate members being adapted to protrude from a respective edge of the window or door for engagement with o the supporting frame in said locked position and to disengage S 20 from the supporting frame in said unlocked position, and wherein said elongate members and actuating member are adapted to be substantially wholly housed within the confines of said hollow support member; and, a key-operated lock for locking said first and second elongate members in the locked position, a barrel of the lock being located co-axially with the central axis of rotation of said actuating member and being mechanically coupled thereto so that turning of the lock barrel can cause said actuating member to rotate which, in turn, causes said first and second elongate members to move.

2. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow support member is an aluminium rectangular section having a groove provided along one edge within which 15 the glass pane is received.

3. A locking mechanis-" as claimed in claim 2, wherein a key hole of said key-opcrated lock is normally the only visible component of said locking mechanism.

4. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second elongate members is in the form of a substantially rigid rod, the free end of said rod being adapted to be received in its locked position in a matching recess in the supporting frame.

5. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein each rod is provided with a rigid elbow adjacent the first and second pivotal connections so as to avoid fouling of the rods with the pivotal connections upon rotation of the actuating member and to permit the actuating member to be rotated through substantially 1 8 0 c

6. An aluminium type sliding window or door having a locking mechanism for locking the window or door in a fixed position in a supporting frame within which the window or door is slidably received, the window or door comprising: a glass pane; a hollow support member extending along one side of the glass pane substantially perpendicularly to the direction i: of sliding movement of the window or door within the i supporting frame; said locking mechanism comprising: ~first and second elongate members each pivotally connected at one end to a rotatable actuating member at first and second pivotal connections respectively, said pivotal connections being offset from a central axis of rotation of said actuating member whereby rotation of said actuating member can -ause both said first and second elongate members to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, 4 IC~r- 16 each of said elongate members being adapted to protrude from a respective edge of the window or door for engagement with the supporting frame in said locked position and to disengage from the supporting frame in said unlocked position, and wherein said elongate members and actuating member are substantially wholly housed within the confines of said hollow support member; and, a key-operated lock for locking said first and second elongate members in the locked position, a barrel of the lock being located co-axially with the central axis of rotation of said actuating member and being mechanically coupled thereto so that turning of the lock barrel can cause said actuating member to rotate which, in turn, causes said first and second elongate members to move.

7. A sliding window or door as claimed in claim 6, wherein a key hole of said key-operated lock is normally the only visible component of said locking mechanism.

8. A sliding window or door as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said first and second elongate members is in the form of a substantially rigid rod, the free end of each rod being adapted to be received in its locked position in a matching recess in the supporting frame. 1

9. A sliding window or door as claimed in claim 8, wherein first and second guides are provided at the respective ends of said hollow member for guiding the first and second rods respectively between their locked and unlocked positions.

A sliding window or door as claimed in claim 11, wherein each guide is formed from a plastics material having Ob.- 17 a low coefficient of friction with the respective rod and is provided with a central bore therethrough sized to allow the free end of the respective rod to freely slide therein.

11. A sliding window or door as claimed in claim 8, wherein the direction of sliding movement of the window or door is in a substantially horizontal direction, and wherein the free end of one of said first an-c second rods still protrudes from a top edge of said window or door in its unlocked position so as to prevent the window or door from being lifted off its track and removed from the supporting frame.

12. A sliding window or door as claimed in claim 8, wherein the direction of sliding movement of the window or door is in a substantially horizontal direction and said supporting frame is provided with a raised runner in a bottom track thereof on which the window or door is slidably supported, one or more matching recesses being formed in a top surface of the runner for receiving the free end of one of the first and second rods therein in the locked position.

13. A sliding window or door as claimed in claim 8, wherein said supporting frame is provided with one or more detents designed to enable the user of the window or door to sense when the hollow support member is properly positioned in the supporting frame so that the first and second rods are correctly aligned with the matching recesses.

14. A locking mechanism for locking a sliding panel, the locking mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. RA(~ R4 TO o Y/l~ II i I 18 A sliding panel having a locking mechanism, the sliding panel substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 29th day of February, 1996. JEFFREY NORMAN PUTLAND By His Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. o 4 f i 4 a a i 1IYM L 16 L--