GB2234777A

GB2234777A - Operating mechanism for locking device

Info

Publication number: GB2234777A
Application number: GB8918165A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest Charles Daley
Original assignee: Regent Lock Co Ltd
Current assignee: Regent Lock Co Ltd
Priority date: 1989-08-09
Filing date: 1989-08-09
Publication date: 1991-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-09
Also published as: GB2234777B; GB8918165D0

Abstract

An operating mechanism 1 for a closure locking device (not shown) comprises a pivotable handle 2 adapted for mounting on a closure by a housing 3 which is hollow and normally closed by a cover (which is omitted in Fig. 1), there being a rotatable gear member 4 affixed to the handle 2 and a complementary profiled member 5 meshing with the gear member 4 and connectible with part of the locking device by projection 6, the arrangement being such that in use turning the handle 2 through 90 DEG reciprocates the profiled member 5 for operating the closure device in a single direction depending on the sense in which the handle 2 is turned. The gear member 4 is a quadrant gear with three teeth 7 equiangularly spaced over 90 DEG . <IMAGE>

Description

OPERATING MECHANISM The invenvio; relates to 3r1 operating mechanism for a closure locking device, particularly a locking device for a closure such as a casement window.

Casement windows often have slidable rods in an edge of their frame for locking with a keeper in a surround for the closure. Such rods require to be reciprocated in order to catch and disengage with the keepers, but such movement is difficult to achieve smoothly and positively by the usual push-pull action, particularly when the rods are to be "hidden" in the frame edge.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.

According to the invention there is provided an operating mechanism for a closure locking device, comprising a pivotable handle adapted for mounting on a closure, a rotatable gear member affixed to a rotatable part of the handle and a complementary profiled member meshing with the gear member and connectible with part of the locking device, the arrangement being that in use turning the handle reciprocates the profiled member,for operating the closure device, in a single direction depending on the sense in which the handle is turned.

The gear member may be a quadrant gear. This provides for simplicity of construction.

The quadrant gear may have three teeth equiangularly spaced over 900. This provides for ease of calculation of a required movement of tne locking member.

The profiled member may comprise a rack which in turn may comprise part of a slidable member which has a projection by which it is operatively connected with the locking device. This provides for positive connection with the locking device.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a closure including an operating mechanism as hereinbefore defined.

An operating mechanism embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of operating mechanism according to the invention, with parts omitted for clarity; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevational view of a profiled member of the operating mechanism; and Figure 4 is an end elevational view of a gear member of the operating mechanism of Figures 1-3.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an operating mechanism 1 for a closure locking device (not shown) comprising a pivotable handle 2 adapted for mounting on a closure by a housing 3 which is hollow and normally closed by a cover (which is omitted in Figure 1), there being a rotatable gear member 4 affixed to the handle 2 and a complementary profiled member 5 meshing with the gear member 4 and connectible with part of the locking device by a projection 6, the arrangement being such that in use turning the handle 2 through 900 reciprocates the profiled member 5 ior operating the closure device in a single direction depending on the sense in which the handle 2 is turned.

The gear member 4 is a quadrant gear with three teeth 7 equiangularly spaced over 900. The gear 4 has a hole 8 through it through which part of the handle at 900 to a hand grip part 9 thereof projects.

The profiled member 5 comprises a reciprocable slidable member 11 having a rack 10 forming the complementary profiled part, the slide being mounted for sliding movement in the housing 3 there being two spigots or bosses 12 which have blind bores 13 in which are mounted respectively guide/locating means in the form of balls 14 under pressure of spring means 15.

The springs 15 urge the balls 14 in a direction out of the bores 13 in which they are retained by the adjacent surface 16 of the housing 3 and which surface is the one along which the balls 14 run to provide a smooth action. At the limit of the travel of the slide, there are notches 17 in the surface 16 in which the balls locate under pressure of the springs 15 to provide a positive retention of the mechanism 1 in an end position.

Projecting from the slide member 11 on the opposite side to the rack 10 is the projection or arm 6 which at its free end is firmly engaged between two studs on the part of the closure device in the form of a slidable rod opposite ends of which carry projecting bolts which engage with keepers on a surround of the closure for locking the closure in the closed position.

In use, and assuming the closure is unlocked or open, the hand grip part 9 of the handle 2 is in the position shown in Figure 1. The gear 4 engages by one end tooth in one space in the rack 10, which is in'the end position shown. Turning the handle 2 900 clockwise as viewed in Figure 1, rotates the gear 4 likewise.

This turning movement is accommodated by movement of the rack 10 to the left as viewed in Figure 1, until the opposite end tooth 7 engages in the rack space 10' and the full travel (about 1.80 cm) of the rack 5 has been accomplished. During this movement, the projection 6 moves the slidable rod an identical amount to lock the studs with the keepers. The closure is now locked.

A reverse operation frees the studs from the keepers to unlock and closure.

In both locking and unlocking actions, the gear 4 provides a firm and positive action and moves the slide and hence the rod in one direction only depending on the turning direction as successive gear teeth 7 engage in the rack 10 to maintain its rtatntum during an opening or closing movement whereby to provide the positive operating action.

Claims

1. An operating mechanism for a closure locking device, comprising a pivotable handle adapted for mounting on a closure, a rotatable gear member affixed to a rotatable part of the handle and a complementary profiled member meshing with the gear member and connectible with part of the locking device, the arrangement being such that in use turning the handle reciprocates the profiled member, for operating the closure device, in a single direction depending on the sense in which the handle is turned.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the gear member comprising a quadrant gear.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the quadrant gear having three teeth equiangularly spaced over 900.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the profiled member comprising a rack.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, the rack comprising part of a slidable member which has a projection by which it is operatively connected with the locking device.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, the slidable member being mounted for sliding movement in a housing.

7. An operating mechanism for a closure locking device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A closure including an operating mechanism according to any preceding Claim.