Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MULTIPOINT LOCKING MECHANISM FOR WINDOW SASH
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present patent application is a divisional
of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,374,620, filed on
March 5, 2002.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[00021 The present invention generally relates to
window assemblies and, more particularly, to mechanisms for
multipoint locking of a window sash to a window frame.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Window sashes are mounted in window frames and
the window sashes either slide, rotate or pivot in the
window frame between fully open and closed positions, or any
position therebetween. Various locking devices have been
provided in order to lock window sashes to their respective
window frames when the window sashes are in the closed
position. Namely, U.S. Patents No. 5,118,145, issued to
Tucker on June 2, 1992, No. 5,791,700, issued on August 11,
1998 to Biro, No. 5,829,802, issued on November 3, 1998 to
Anderson et al., and No. 5,927,768, issued on July 27, 1999
to Dallmann et al., each describe locking systems for window
sash/window frame assemblies that qualify as being
multipoint. Multipoint locking mechanisms for window sash
comprise at least two pairs of interacting members that
interact to lock the window sash to the window frame in at
least two different points. Having multiple points of
locking between a window sash and a window frame ensures a
secure locking therebetween. A multipoint lock is also
desirable as it prevents warping of the window sash and
maintains it flush with the window frame and the weather
stripping thereof to assure a good seal. If the sash is
warped, the multipoint lock will exert a force on the sash
to straighten it in the window frame. The points of lock
allow the window sash to exert a uniform pressure on the
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window frame, and therefore a tight seal between the window
frame and the window sash is maintained.
[0004) It is known to provide multipoint locking
wherein the window lock has ramped keepers secured to the
window sash and cam rollers on a slider bar which is mounted
to the window frame. The slider bar translates up and down
on a side wall of the window frame in response to manual or
motorized actuation of a handle. By displacing the slider
bar upward, the cam rollers on the slider bar, which may
also be cams or mushroom cams, each engage a ramped portion
of a respective ramped keeper so as to lock the window sash
to the window frame. It is pointed out that the window sash
must be generally closed for the rollers to engage the
ramped keepers, yet the ramped portions of the ramped
keepers ensure that the window sash will lock even when the
window sash is not completely closed. When the window sash
is locked, the rollers of the slider bar rest against a flat
surface of the ramped keepers and prevent the opening of the
window sash.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] It is a feature of the present invention to
provide an improved multipoint locking mechanism for window
sashes and wherein the keeper and cam are both wedges that
provide increased surface engagement and a greater
displacement span.
[0006] According to the above feature of the present
invention, and from a broad aspect thereof, there is
provided a method for locking a window sash in a closed
position to a window frame, comprising: providing a slider
portion translating longitudinally on a window frame and
supporting a cam wedge comprising at least one flat ramped
portion obliquely positioned with respect to the translation
direction of the slider portion; aligning the flat ramped
portion with a corresponding keeper portion on the window
sash by moving the window sash to the closed position;
bringing the flat ramped portion toward the corresponding
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keeper portion until contact; moving the corresponding
keeper portion along the flat ramped portion; and preventing
a displacement of the window sash by having the
corresponding keeper portion lock with the slider portion
beyond the flat ramped portion.
[0007] In accordance with a further broad aspect of the
present invention, there is provided a cam wedge for a
locking mechanism for locking a window sash in a closed
position in a window frame, the locking mechanism being of
the type having a slider portion translating longitudinally
on a window frame in response to an actuation of a handle to
engage at least two engagement members of the slider portion
with corresponding keeper portions secured on the window
sash for locking the window sash to the window frame, the
cam wedge comprising a body having at least one flat ramped
portion obliquely positioned with respect to the translation
direction of the slider portion, the cam wedge secured to
the slider portion to be one of the at least two engagement
members such that the at least one ramped portion engages
with the corresponding keeper portion during the translation
of the slider portion, and is guided by the corresponding
keeper portion to lockingly engage therewith beyond the
ramped portion to prevent a displacement of the window sash
toward an open position thereof.
[00081 According to a further broad aspect from the
present application, there is provided A multipoint locking
mechanism for locking a window sash in a closed position in
a window frame, the locking mechanism being of the type
having a slider portion translating longitudinally in a
window frame in response to an actuation of a handle to
engage at least two engagement members of the slider portion
with corresponding keeper portions in the window sash for
locking the window sash to the window frame, wherein at
least one of the at least two engagement members is a cam
wedge having at least one flat ramped portion obliquely
positioned with respect to the translation direction of the
slider portion, the cam wedge being positioned on the slider
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portion such that the at least one ramped portion engages
with the corresponding keeper portion during the translation
of the slider portion, and is guided by the corresponding
keeper portion to lockingly engage therewith beyond the
ramped portion to prevent a displacement of the window sash
toward an open position thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(0009] A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[00101 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window having
a multipoint locking mechanism in accordance with the
present invention;
[0011] Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partly
fragmented, showing the multipoint locking mechanism secured
between a window frame and sash and disposed at an unlocked
position;
[0012) Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the
multipoint locking mechanism and taken along cross-sectional
lines III-III of Fig. 2;
[0013] Fig. 4 is a front elevational view, partly
fragmented, showing the multipoint locking mechanism in a
locked position;
[0014) Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the
multipoint locking mechanism taken along cross-sectional
line V-V of Fig. 4;
[0015] Fig. 6A is an enlarged front elevational view of
a cam wedge and keeper wedge pair of the multipoint locking
mechanism in the unlocked position;
(0016) Fig. 6B is an enlarged side elevational view of
the cam wedge and keeper wedge pair of the multipoint
locking mechanism in the unlocked position;
[00171 Fig. 7A is an enlarged front elevational view of
the cam wedge and keeper wedge pair of the multipoint
locking mechanism in the locked position;
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[0018] Fig. 7B is an enlarged side elevational view of
the cam wedge and keeper wedge pair of the multipoint
locking mechanism in the locked position;
[0019] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the
multipoint locking mechanism taken along cross-sectional
line VIII-VIII of Fig. 4;
[0020] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the cam wedge of
the locking mechanism;
[00211 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a keeper wedge
of the locking mechanism;
[00221 Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a cam wedge of
the locking mechanism in accordance with another embodiment
of the present invention; and
[00231 Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the cam wedge
in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to the drawings and, more
particularly, to Fig. 1, a window sash 10 is shown pivotally
mounted to a window frame 12, with a handle 14 at a base of
the window frame 12 rotatable for opening and closing the
window sash 10. For simplicity purposes, the multipoint
locking mechanism of the present invention will be referred
to hereinafter as "the locking mechanism 20." The locking
mechanism 20, not shown in Fig. 1, has a handle 22,
pivotable between a locking position A and an unlocked
position B, to lock/unlock the window sash 10 in the
frame 12.
[0025] Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the locking
mechanism 20 is shown, and it has a slider bar 24 extending
generally a predetermined length between a bottom and a top
of the window frame 12. The slider bar 24 is a steel bar
slidingly mounted to the window frame 12 so as to slide
between an unlocked position, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and
3, and a locking position, which will be described
hereinafter and is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The slider
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bar 24 is displaceable between its unlocked position and its
locking position by the actuation of the handle 22.
Accordingly, the locking and unlocking positions of the
slider bar 24 correspond to the locking and unlocking
positions of the handle 22. The handle 22 has a fork 26
which is displaced by an actuating linkage 23. The fork 26
is coupled to a pin 28 secured to the slider bar 24 and
actuates the displacement of the slider bar 24 between the
unlocked position and the locking position.
(0026] As shown in Fig. 3, the slider bar 24 has a cam
wedge 30 in a middle portion thereof. Although the cam
wedge 30 is illustrated in the middle portion of the slider
bar 24, it may be at any position thereon, such as 1/4, 1/3,
1/2 of the height, or any other specified position. As
shown in Fig. 9, the cam wedge 30 has a trapezoid-shaped
body 31 with ramped portions 32 and 34 and a flat rest
portion 36. A slider bar contact surface 38 of the body 31
has a pair of protrusions 40 projecting outwardly therefrom.
A through bore 42 is provided in the body 31 and extends
therethrough from the slider bar contact surface 38 to an
outer surface 44, with the portion of the through bore 42
emerging out of the outer surface 44 being countersunk.
When the cam wedge 30 is secured to the slider bar 24, the
protrusions 40 are received in corresponding holes in the
slider bar 24 to arrest the cam wedge 30, and a fastener,
such as a screw, a bolt, or a rivet, fastens the cam wedge
30 to the slider bar 24. As shown in Fig. 3, when the cam
wedge 30 is secured to the slider bar 24, the ramped
portions 32 and 34 and the flat rest portion 36 face toward
the interior side of the window frame, i.e., the side of
handle 22. A first lip 46 projects outwardly from the
slider contact surface 38 and abuts a side edge surface of
the slider bar 24 to ensure the stability of the connection
between the cam wedge 30 and the slider bar 24. A second
lip 48 extends outwardly from the ramped portions 32 and 34
and the flat rest portion 36. The use of the second lip 48
will be described hereinafter.
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[0027] Returning to Figs. 2 and 3, the three keeper
wedges 50 are shown secured to the window sash 10.
Referring to Fig. 10, one of the keeper wedges 50 is shown
in greater detail. The keeper wedge 50 has a trapezoid-
shaped body 51. The body 51 has ramped portions 52 and 54
and a flat rest portion 56. A flange 58 extends outwardly
from the ramped portions 52 and 54 and the flat rest portion
56, and has a pair of beveled through bores 60, so as to be
secured by fasteners such as screws or bolts to the window
sash 10. A lip 61 projects upwardly from the ramped
portions 52 and 54 and the flat rest portion 56, and its use
will be described hereinafter.
[0028] Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the slider bar 24 is
shown in its unlocked position, with the window sash 10 in a
generally closed position with respect to the window frame
12. The locking mechanism 20 illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5
has one cam wedge 30 in a middle of the slider bar 24, and
rollers 62, which may be mushroom cams, at top and bottom
ends of the slider bar 24. When the slider bar 24 is in its
unlocked position, the cam wedge 30 thereon is slightly
below the middle keeper wedge 50. This is best seen in
Fig. 7B. Similarly, the rollers 62 are also slightly below
corresponding ones of the keeper wedges 50.
[0029] To lock the window sash 10 to the window frame
12, the handle 22 is gradually displaced from its unlocked
position to its locked position. This will result in a
gradual upward motion of the slider bar 24, such that the
rollers 62 and the cam wedge 30 thereon will come into
contact with the keeper wedges 50. More precisely, as shown
in Fig. 7B, the ramped portion 32 of the cam wedge 30 will
meet the ramped portion 52 of the middle keeper wedge 50,
and one will slide on the other, thereby pulling the window
sash 10 toward the window frame 12. Once the ramped
portions 32 and 52 are past one another, the flat rest
portions 36 and 56 will slide on one another until the
slider bar 24 reaches its locking position, at which point
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the flat rest portions 36 and 56 will rest in abutment one
against the other.
[00301 Similarly, the rollers 62 will end up resting
against the flat rest portion 56 of the uppermost and
lowermost keeper wedges 50. However, instead of having a
ramped portion 32 sliding against a ramped portion 52 of the
keeper wedge 50, the rollers 62 will roll or slide on the
ramped portions 52 of the keeper wedges 50 until the rollers
62 are past the ramped portions 52, at which point they will
roll on the flat rest portions 56 of the keeper wedges 50.
When the slider bar 24 reaches its locking position, the
rollers 62 will rest in abutment against the flat rest
portions 56 of the keeper wedges 50.
[0031] Accordingly, the abutment between the keeper
wedges 50 and the rollers 62 and the cam wedge 30 prevents
the opening of the window sash 10, whereby the window sash
is said to be locked to the window frame 12. As best
seen in Fig. 7B, the cam wedge 30 will be an obstacle that
will prevent the keeper wedge 50 from moving in the
direction of arrow A, i.e., from moving in an opening
direction of the window sash 10. Although not illustrated,
the rollers 62 also act as an obstacle to the opening of the
window sash 10 by resting in abutment against the flat rest
portions 56 of the keeper wedges 50.
[0032] Furthermore, as best seen in Fig. 7A, the second
lip 48 of the cam wedge 30 abuts against the lip 61 of the
keeper wedge 50, such that the window sash 10 cannot be
tampered with laterally, i.e., in the direction of arrow B,
so as to surround the cam wedge 30 to open the window sash
10. Similarly, the rollers have mushroom heads that abut
against the lips 61 of the keeper wedges 50.
[0033] It has been thought to position the cam wedge 30
and the rollers 62 on the slider bar 24 such that the cam
wedge 30 initiates the locking of the window sash 10 to the
window frame 12 as explained above, while the rollers 62
have yet to come in contact with their respective keeper
wedges 50. More specifically, once the ramped portion 32 of
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the cam wedge 30 has met the ramped portion 52 of the middle
keeper wedge 50 and has started sliding thereon, one of the
rollers 62, such as the lower one, engages its corresponding
keeper wedge 50, to finally be followed by the upper roller
62. Thus, this position of the cam wedge 30 and the rollers
62 creates a gradual step locking action of the window sash
to the window frame 12.
[0034] To unlock the window sash 10 from the window
frame 12, the handle 22 is displaced from its locking
position to its unlocked position. By doing so, the slider
bar 24 is gradually displaced from its locking position (as
shown in Figs. 4 and 5) to its unlocked position (as shown
in Figs. 4 and 5), thereby moving the cam wedge 30 and the
rollers 62 away from the keeper wedges 50. Accordingly, the
cam wedge 30 and the rollers 62 are no longer obstacles that
prevent the window sash 10 from being opened.
[00351 Although the locking mechanism 20 illustrated in
Figs. 2 to 5 has one cam wedge 30 for two rollers 62, it is
obvious that the locking mechanism 20 may be provided with
three cam wedges 30. The locking mechanism 20 is said to be
"multipoint," as it has at least two points of contact
between the window sash 10 and the window frame 12, namely
the cam wedge 30 and the middle keeper wedge 50, and the
rollers 62 and the end keeper wedges 50. Although the
locking mechanism 20 illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 has three
points of contact, two points of contact could also have
been sufficient, and four or more points of contact could be
used for higher windows. Also, the above described
offsetting of the cam wedge 30 and the rollers 62 may also
be performed on a locking mechanism 20 having only cam
wedges 30. It is obvious that one can position the keeper
wedges 50 on the window sash 10 to create the gradual step
locking action.
[0036] The use of a cam wedge 30 interacting with a
keeper wedge 50 provides a few advantages. Namely, the
closing action created by the locking of the window sash 10
to the window frame 12 involves a greater displacement of
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the window sash 10 with respect to the window frame 12 when
compared to a roller performing the locking, in the event
where the roller has a diameter similar to the width of the
cam wedge 30. In order for a roller to engage the ramped
portion 52 of the keeper wedge 50, the ramped portion 52 of
the keeper wedge 50 must come into contact with the roller
at least in alignment with the center of the roller,
otherwise there is no engagement between the roller and the
keeper wedge 50. On the other hand, the ramped portion 32
of the cam wedge 30 needs only to have its tip come into
contact with the tip of the ramped portion 52 of the keeper
wedge 50 in order to engage therewith.
[00371 Referring to Fig. 8, the increased displacement
in the closing action resulting from the locking of the
window sash 10 to the window frame 12 enables a greater
compression of resilient sealing means 64 located on the
periphery of the window sash 10 and coming into contact with
various portions of the window frame 12 to assure the
sealing therebetween.
[0038] The cam wedge 30 is solidly secured to the
slider bar 24 by its protrusions 40, its lip 46 and the
fastener received in the through bore 42. In comparison, a
roller has one connection point with the slider bar 24,
i.e., its pivot. Therefore, pivots are more prone to break
as a result of a force applied to the window sash than an
engagement member, such as the cam wedge 30, that is secured
to the slider bar 24 in at least two points.
[0039] The cam wedge 30 and the keeper wedges 50 are
each shown having two ramped portions. Although only one
ramped portion is used, the cam wedge 30 and the keeper
wedges 50 may be used with window sashes closing from either
side. The cam wedge 30 of Fig. 9 must however be turned
according to the side the window will be opening, and the
fasteners used therewith must allow the cam wedge 30 to be
detached from the slider bar 24. Therefore, savings are
involved in the manufacturing of only one type of cam wedge
and one type of window that will serve on left or right
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sides of windows. However, the cam wedges 30 illustrated in
Figs. 11 and 12 may also be used in accordance with the
present invention. The cam wedge 30 illustrated in Fig. 12
is universal as it positioned in the same manner whether it
is on a right-side or left-side closing window and does not
need to be turned during installation according to the side
the window will be opening. However, it only provides half
the travel or displacement the cam wedges 30 illustrated in
Figs. 9 and 11 provide. The cam wedge 30 of Fig. 11, on the
other hand, may only be used on one side. Finally, although
the slider bar 24 is shown translating up and down, it is
obvious that the locking mechanism 20 may be set in the
window frame 12 horizontally.
[0040] It is within the ambit of the present invention
to cover any obvious modifications of the embodiments
described herein, provided such modifications fall within
the scope of the appended claims.
