Locks – Special application – For closures
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-09-18
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)
Locks
Special application
For closures
C070S134000, C292S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289704
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an espagnolette or espagnolette-lock for a door, French window or the like, comprising, accommodated in a central casing, a control mechanism designed so as to be capable of actuating at least one operating rod and including, springy means for automatically restoring the operating rod into its locking position, as well as manual control means. The control means is a tumbler actuated through a control handle, for ensuring the unlocking of this operating rod and resetting of the springy means. The invention further includes a locking device capable of maintaining the operating rod in its unlocked position upon opening of the leaf of the door, French window or the like. The invention also includes unlocking means capable of releasing the locking device when closing the leaf against the sash-frame, in order to allow the restoring of the operating rod into its locking position.
This invention will find its application in the field of the building iron-mongery and in particular relates to locking fittings.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
One should indeed note that there are already known espagnolettes or espagnolettes-locks meeting the above description. Such espagnolettes facilitate the locking of the door, French window or the like in that the operating rod or rods are automatically pushed back into their locking position under the action of springy restoring means the action of which is, released at the very moment at which the leaf is closed against the sash-frame. When unlocking and opening this leaf, the action performed by the user on a control handle results into bringing this or these operating rods into their unlocked position and in ensuring the resetting of the aforementioned springy means, while an adequate locking device simultaneously maintains the operating rod or rods in this unlocked position against the action of the spring which substantially forms the springy restoring means.
Finally, such an espagnolette also includes unlocking means which are capable of releasing the locking device when closing the leaf against the sash-frame, in order to allow the restoring of these operating rods into their locking position.
An espagnolette meeting this description is already known. In particular, the locking device consists of a locking pawl which is tiltingly fitted at the level of a face-plate which usually covers the various ogans of the espagnolette or espagnolette-lock at the front edge of the leaf. This locking pawl acts in the direction of moving of this leaf, so that, when opening the leaf, it automatically tilts towards the sash-frame, this under the action of a spring, whereas, when closing this leaf, the sash-frame is capable of pushing back this locking pawl against the spring.
One should note that such a locking pawl is extended, by a lever through which it is capable of maintaining the operating rod or rods in an unlocked position, this at the very moment at which the leaf is opened and, hence, as soon as this locking pawl could be released from the sash-frame.
Such a solution has the drawback that the release mechanism is dissociated from a locking organ of the espagnolette or espagnolette-lock. This results in non-synchronous actions between the release mechanism and, the spring-bolt, which is the first of these locking organs that enters into contact with a keeper of the sash-frame. Therefore, any one of these members can strike against an organ of the sash-frame, e.g. a keeper.
In addition, such a locking pawl must, alone and through its locking lever arranged inside the casing, act against the action of the springy restoring means restoring the operating rods into their locking position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventive step of this invention separates the function of maintaining the operating rods in the unlocked position from the releasing this retaining function when closing the leaf against the sash-frame.
To this end, the invention relates to an espagnolette or espagnolette-lock for a door, French window or the like, comprising, accommodated in a central casing, a control mechanism designed so as to be capable of actuating at least one operating rod. The control mechanism includes springy means for automatically restoring the operating rod into its locking position, as well as manual control means. The manual control means is a tumbler actuated through a control handle, for ensuring the unlocking of this operating rod and resetting the springy means. The invention further includes a locking device capable of maintaining the operating rod in its unlocked position upon opening of the leaf and unlocking means capable of releasing the locking device when closing the leaf against the sash-frame, in order to allow the restoring of the operating rod into its locking position. The locking device includes a toggle joint comprised of at least two rods connected to each other by means of a fulcrum. One of these rods are made integral, through a hinged joint, with the operating rod or with a support connected to the operating rod, whereas the other rod is made integral, through a hinged joint, with the casing. In unlocking position of the operating rod, the fulcrum and both hinged joints of this toggle joint are located substantially in the same alignment parallel to the direction of travelling of the operating rod or of the support, in order to sustain the toggel joint in an unstable balance position.
As regards the unlocking means, these substantially include a control pawl capable of pushing back the when the latter is in its unstable balance position, in order to allow the locking of the operating rod under the action of the springy means. This control pawl is associated to a spring-bolt subjected to a spring for restoring into locking position and including a retaining organ capable of maintaining this spring-bolt in an unlocked or partially unlocked position. This retaining organ being designed so as to be capable of co-operating, directly or indirectly, with this sash-frame when closing the leaf, in order to release the spring-bolt and to ensure, under the action of the control pawl associated with the retaining organ, the locking of the operating rod.
The advantages resulting from this invention include that the operating rods are maintained in their unlocked position, against the action of the springy means, through a mechanical unit which is in an unstable balance position and which can therefore easily be brought into unbalance under a light action. Therefore, to impart this action, it is necessary to use the restoring spring, which is finally of poor stiffness and systematically brings the spring-bolt back into locking position. Because of this poor stiffness of the restoring spring of the locking bolt, the locking can bolt easily be maintained in its unlocked or partially unlocked position when the leaf is open. To this end, the retaining organ can be of a small size and easily actuated by the sash-frame, in particular by the keeper which the spring-bolt with when closing this leaf.
Further aims and advantages of this invention will become clear when reading the following description which relates to an embodiment which is given only by way of an indication and a non-exhaustive example.
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patent: 5765410 (1998-06-01), Kwan et al.
patent: 5782114 (1998-07-01), Zeus et al.
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Collet Jean-Yves
Prevot Gerard
Prevot Nadine
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Ferco International Ferrures et Serrures de Batiment Societe Ano
Harrison & Egbert
Prevot Nadine
LandOfFree
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