This invention relates to an espagnolette fastening for windows or doors, and which comprises a pinion housing for securement in a closing face of a window or door, a pinion rotatably mounted in the housing and adapted to be operated by an actuating handle, and an elongate member slidable longitudinally in response to rotation of the pinion to move between fastening and release positions.

Espagnolette type mechanisms are well known in the art of window and door closure systems and need not be described in more detail herein.

The present invention is concerned with an espagnolette fastening in which a pair of oppositely movable slidable members is provided, each member being intended to carry a respective cam-fastening which is moved into and out of engagement with a respective keeper element when the fastening is operated between fastening and release positions.

Typically, cams used in espagnolette fastenings are known as "mushroom cams", but this type of cam is not essential to the present invention, and any suitable design of cam, pin, projection or the like may be used, provided it is capable of moving slidably between fastening and release positions with respect to a corresponding keeper element.

In a double slidable member (rod) type of espagnolette fastening, with which the invention is concerned, it is necessary to design the internal gear of the housing in such a way that relatively opposite linear movements are transferred to the slidable members, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved design of internal gear mechanism which enables this to be obtained by simple and reliable means.

According to . the invention there is provided an espagnolette fastening for a window or door member, and which comprises a pinion housing for securement in a closing face of said member, a primary pinion rotatably mounted in said housing and adapted to be operated by an actuating handle to rotate

between fastening and release positions, a pair of oppositely movable elongate elements which are slidable longitudinally between fastening and release positions, fastening elements provided on said elongate elements to co-operate with respective keeper elements, and a mechanism mounted within said housing and coupled with said elongate elements, said mechanism being operative to move the elements in relatively opposite directions upon rotation of said primary pinion; in which said mechanism comprises: a secondary pinion rotatably mounted in said housing and in mesh with said primary pinion to be rotated in a relatively opposite direction; a first link pivotally interconnected between the primary pinion and one of said elongate elements; and, a second link pivotally interconnected between said secondary pinion and a second of said elongate elements.

Thus, upon actuation of the primary pinion by the handle between its release and fastening positions, the two elongate elements move in opposite directions i.e. towards or away from each other, in order to move their fastening elements between release and fastening positions with respect to the corresponding keeper elements.

Therefore, the invention provides a simple and reliable means for transferring opposite linear movements to the pair of elongate elements, and such means being readily accommodated within the housing.

Each link comprises a toggle type link, in that it is pivoted at each end, and in that the primary and secondary pinions only need to rotate through a small angle (to effect movement of the elements between the release and fastening positions), and only part of their peripheries therefore need to be provided with meshing teeth. This enables a compact design of housing to be provided, which does not need to project too deeply into the closing face of the door or window.

Preferably, each elongate element carries, at its end remote from its link, a respective bolt (known as a shootbolt) which can move axially between locking and release positions

with respect to keeper slots in the top and bottom horizontal members of a surrounding rectangular frame in which the door or window is mounted.

A preferred embodiment of espagnolette fastening according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective illustration of the fastening, with a cover of a pinion housing removed to show the internal gear construction.

Referring now to the drawing, an espagnolette fastening according to the invention is designated generally by reference 20 and is intended to be mounted in the usual groove provided in the closing face of a door or window (not shown) which in turn is mounted on hinges in a fixed rectangular frame in which the door or window is mounted, for movement between open and closed positions.

The espagnolette fastening 20 is used to lock the door or window when it is in the closed position.

The fastening 20 comprises a pinion housing 1 which will normally be received by a suitably shaped recess defined in the closing face, and in which is rotatably mounted a primary pinion 2 and which is adapted to be operated by an actuating handle (not shown) to rotate the pinion 2 between fastening and release positions. A pair of oppositely movable elongate elements are slidable longitudinally between fastening and release positions, and take the form of sliding rods (or elongate strips) 4 and 5. Fastening elements in the form of mushroom cams 8 are provided on the rods 4 and 5 to co-operate with respective keeper elements (not shown) mounted in the fixed frame in which the door or window is mounted. Operation of the actuating handle to rotate primary pinion 2 results in the rods 4 and 5 being moved longitudinally in relatively opposite directions i.e. towards each other, or away from each other. A mechanism is mounted within the pinion housing 1 and is operative to transfer rotational movement of primary pinion 2 into relative linear movement in opposite directions of the rods 4 and 5.

The mechanism comprises a secondary pinion 3 which is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 , and in mesh with the primary pinion 3, to be rotated in a relatively opposite direction. A first link 6 is pivotally interconnected between part of the outer periphery of primary pinion 2, i.e. it is pivoted at a point radially spaced from the axis of rotation of primary pinion 2, and is pivoted also to an adjacent end of rod

4 which is located within the confines of housing 1. A second link 6a is pivotally interconnected between the secondary pinion 3 and a second one of the slidable elements, namely sliding rod 5.

Therefore, upon actuation of primary pinion 2 by the handle between its release and fastening positions, the rods 4 and 5 move in opposite directions in order to move their cams 8 between release and fastening positions with respect to the corresponding keeper elements. Therefore, a simple and reliable mechanism is provided internally of pinion housing 1 , in order to transfer pivoting movement of primary pinion 2 into relatively opposite slidable movement of the rods 4 and 5.

Each link 6, 6a is a toggle linkage, pivoted at each end, and in that the primary pinion 2 and secondary pinion 3 only require to be in mesh with each other through relatively small angular rotations, only part of their peripheries need to be provided with meshing teeth, and thereby the overall dimensions of each pinion (measured radially outwardly from their axes) can be kept relatively small in view of the parts of their peripheries which are untoothed, and therefore the depth of the housing 1 to accommodate the pinions can be kept small. In addition, whereas conventional espagnolette fastenings have a direct rack and pinion drive connection between an input pinion and racks provided on the or each sliding rod, a simpler and particularly reliable mechanism is provided by transferring rotation from primary pinion 2 to secondary pinion 3, and then converting the opposite rotations of the pinions to the respective slide rods via the simple toggle links 6 and 6a.

In addition to carrying mushroom cams 8, each rod 4 and

5 is also capable of operating a "shootbolt" provided at its

end, and which can move axially between locking and release positions with respect to keeper slots in the top and bottom horizontal members of a surrounding rectangular frame (not shown) in which the door or window is mounted. Each shootbolt assembly comprises a bolt 9 mounted on the end of each rod 4 or 5 which is remote from housing 1 , and which can move longitudinally with its rod between a withdrawn position, and an extended locking position projecting through end piece 10 as shown in the drawing.

A cover element 12 is provided at each end of a usual static rail 11 forming a longitudinal fixing strip extending throughout the length of the fastening 20 (and received by a usual "Eurogroove" in the extruded section forming the closing face), and which may be of a length corresponding substantially to the overall length of the closing face in which it is mounted. The end pieces 10 will be located at each corner at the end of the closing face. A closure plate or cap 7 is shown in exploded position with respect to housing 1 , so that the internal mechanism can be seen.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention has the following advantages:

1. It produces higher security than the existing designs;

2. The combination of shootbolts and mushroom cams effectively means that three sides of the frame of an openable window or door can be locked upon actuation of the fastening to the fastening position;

3. It can be designed to be dimensionally similar to standard designs of espagnolette rods, with no additional routed slots being required to be formed in the closing face;

4. All existing espagnolette rods have fixings for the handle to the gearbox at a standard distance apart which is 43mm. In known designs, located centrally between the fixing bolts and driven by a spindle attached to the handle, is a pinion, which drives a rack which in turn slides the moving rail and the mushroom cams in a single direction, in that only a single moving rail or sliding rod is provided. By contrast,

in the illustrated embodiment, two oppositely moving espagnolette rods are provided, which are driven by primary and secondary pinions, one of which (the primary pinion) may be mounted in the usual place to be driven by the spindle of the actuator handle, whereas the secondary pinion may use one of the standard fixing points as its pivot. Two moving rails (rods 4, 5) are used in this set-up, the first being linked to the main pinion, and the second being connected by a separate link to the secondary pinion. As the main pinion is rotated by the handle, sliding its rail (4) in one direction, pinion 2 rotates secondary pinion 3 in an opposite direction, which in turn drives its rail (rod 5) in the opposite direction, thereby giving a by-directional throw;

5. The "gearbox" in the illustrated embodiment is provided with an anti-push-back feature in that when each shootbolt is in the closed position, due to the arrangement of the links and pinions, it is not possible to forcibly release the shootbolt by applying pressure either to the cams or to the ends of the shootbolts. To release the shootbolts, the main pinion must be turned by the handle fitted inside the building, and this further helps to prevent unauthorised entry from externally. Thus, when the pinions 2, 3 are rotated from the release position shown in the drawing of cams 8 and shootbolts 9, and to the locking position, the links 6, 6a transmit linear outward movement to rods 4, 5 as the pivots (on which the links 6, 6a are connected to the peripheries of pinions 2, 3) move through respective arcs of movement. When the locked position is reached, the line of action of each link 6, 6a may pass through the axis of rotation of the respective pinion, or go over-centre relative thereto, and in either event this will provide the "anti-push-back" feature to strongly resist any attempt at forced unlocking of the cams 8 and / or shootbolts 9.