The invention relates to latching of a movable panel, e.g. a door or window, to an external element.

A movable panel in the context of the present invention may be a door or a window, which is pivotal between an opened and closed position about a pivot axis, e.g. the axis extending along one side thereof, e.g. a vertical side. In embodiments, the panel may be pivotal about two perpendicular pivot axes that each extend along a side edge that is perpendicular to the other pivot axis. The external element is, for example, a frame that surrounds the side edges of the panel when the panel is in a closed position, so for example a door frame or a window frame. In case the panel forms part of, for example, a double door or double window, the other panel may also form an external element in the context of the present invention.

It is known in the art to latch the panel to an external element(s), e.g. to keep the door or window in closed position thereof.

One known type of latching mechanism is of the espagnolette type, which mechanism is mounted to a door or window at a side edge thereof. Two rods of the mechanism extend along this side edge and are longitudinally movable. The latching and unlatching movement of the rods is actuated by (manual) rotation of a rotary member, e.g. a knob or handle, which rotation is converted into the longitudinal translation of the rods via a transmission, for example as shown in GB1222528. To keep the door or window latched in the closed position thereof, the ends of the rods are insertable into recesses that are provided in opposite portions of the window frame or door frame

Another known latching mechanism is disclosed in EP2426297. To establish latching, the elongated slats of this latching mechanism are displaced not only in the longitudinal direction thereof, but also in a lateral or outward direction thereof, i.e. away from the side edge of the panel along which these slats extend. This additional displacement direction enables the slats to effect a seal between the panel and the external element in this laterally outwards direction. For example, the outer edge zone of the slats moves into a groove of the external element that extends alongside the associated side edge of the panel. For example, this external element may be formed by a corresponding side of the door frame or window frame. In another example, this external element may be a portion of a second panel, e.g. in case of a double door or double window. This sealing functionality by the additional lateral outwards motion of the slats may provide additional advantages in terms of thermal and/or sound insulation, fire resistance, burglary resistance, and/or create a firmer latching.

The latching mechanism of EP2426297 is not entirely satisfactory, in particular in view of the conversion of the rotation of the rotary member to the combined motion of the latching slats. The mechanism includes a transmission assembly wherein parts move loosely relative to one another at their interface. Such rubbing of the parts against each other entails undue friction between these parts. The effectiveness of the conversion is limited in terms of the magnitude of the combined movement of the slats resulting from the user-driven rotation of the rotary member. Moreover smoothness and consistency of the trajectory of the motion of the slats is not satisfactory. The moving parts may be prone to mutual dislocations and undue wear. Furthermore, the transmission assembly requires an unduly large space in the plane of the panel.

Another known mechanism wherein the rotation of rotary members is converted into a combined motion of latching slats is disclosed in US4505139. This latching mechanism is however not used in a device for latching a panel to an external element, and does not lead to a lateral outward latching alongside a side of the panel.

The present invention aims to address the above mentioned problems of prior art latching mechanisms by providing an improved latching mechanism for latching a movable panel to at least one nearby external element when the panel is positioned in a first position relative to the external element. The invention provides a latching mechanism according to claim 1.

The latching mechanism comprises a latching slats assembly, a transmission assembly, and a guiding assembly as defined in claim 1. The purpose of the latching slats assembly is to engage the external element(s), so as to latch the panel thereto in the latched state thereof. The purpose of the transmission assembly is to convert the rotation of the rotary member to the movement of the slats. The purpose of the guiding assembly is to govern lateral and longitudinal movements of the outer end portions of the slats, so that the end portions move along a determined trajectory as the inner end portions are moved by the transmission assembly along curved trajectories.

The latching mechanism is configured to be mounted to the panel in an installation position, with the slats, and thus the longitudinal movement component of the inner ends thereof, extending along a first side edge, and the lateral movement component of the inner ends extending in the plane of the panel, directed away from the first side edge.

In order to convert the rotation of the rotary member to the latching of the panel by the latching slats assembly, according to the first aspect of the invention, the transmission assembly comprises a primary swivel element, which is provided with the rotary member connection and has a primary swivel axis extending in a front-back direction, and a secondary swivel element, operatively connected via a transmission to the primary swivel element for swiveling of the secondary swivel element caused by swiveling of the primary swivel element around a secondary swivel axis parallel to the primary swivel axis.

The first and second slats are with the inner end portions thereof each pivotally connected to respectively the primary and secondary swivel elements via respectively a first and second pivot axis, which are each radially spaced from and parallel to the respective swivel axis, such that the pivot axes are each movable around the respective swivel axis along a respective curved trajectory.

Thus, in contrast to the mentioned prior art, the swiveling of the swivel elements is interdependent, around distinct and spaced swivel axes, and is transmitted to the latching slats via respective pivot axes at a radial distance from the swivel axes.

This configuration of the transmission assembly enables a more direct transmission of the rotation of the operable rotary member to the latching slats. It may allow also for a reduced friction. It may also allow for a simpler design of any moving parts of the transmission assembly. Robustness and lifetime may be increased, for example parts may be shaped simpler and stiffer and have smaller or no internal apertures. The effectiveness of the conversion may be improved, benefiting a reliable latching, a larger possible output movement of the latching slats and/or an increased compactness of the mechanism. One or more of these potential advantages are explained in more detail in relation to the figures.

In an example, the panel is a window or door, e.g. forming part of a building, e.g. of the exterior thereof of as a separation between utility spaces of the building. The external element may include, e.g. one or more portions of, a frame for the door or window. For example, one laterally extending frame part, two laterally extending frame parts, and/or a longitudinally extending frame part. The external element may include a side edge of another panel that is placed directly adjacent the side edge of the panel at which the latching mechanism is provided. For example, the latching mechanism is to be provided to the left, vertically extending side edge of a first window, and is to be latched by means of the latching mechanism to the upper and/or lower, horizontally extending parts of the window frame, and/or to the right, vertically extending side edge of a second window, extending within the same window frame next to the first window.

In an example, the movable panel is a part of a piece of furniture, for example a cabinet, in which case the external element may be another part of that same piece of furniture.

In an example, the panel is pivotal, for example relative to a frame, for example an out-of- plane pivotability about the side edge of the panel that is opposite to the first side edge to which the latching mechanism is to be provided, e.g. about a right or left vertical side edge whereas the latching mechanism is provided to respectively the left or right vertical side edge.

In an example, the panel is translatable in its plane, e.g. slidable, for example relative to a frame, for example in the lateral direction of the latching mechanism - seen in the installed position thereof - i.e. when mounted to the panel with the slats extending along the first side edge.

The latching mechanism is configured for latching the panel to the external element(s) in at least a proximate position of a first side edge of the panel relative to the external element(s). In general, this proximate position of the first side edge will be a closed position of the panel. When the panel is, for example, a door or window and the external element is a frame of the door or window, the closed position generally entails that the plane of the panel is aligned with the frame. In this closed position, the side edges of the door or window will commonly all be proximate the frame and/or the other door or window in a double door or double window system.

In the context of the present application, the longitudinal direction is defined as the direction along which the elongate slats extend. In many practical applications, this will be the vertical direction, wherein the first side edge is a vertical side edge of the panel. The mechanism is then mounted to the panel so that the slats extend along the vertical first side edge. The laterally outward direction of the slats is the direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and away from the swivel axes. In the installed position, this direction points perpendicularly away from the first side edge, in the plane of the panel, in order to obtain the sealing functionality afforded by the slats between the side edge and the external element. The laterally inwards direction points towards the swivel axes and, in the installed position, towards the panel. The front-back directions are perpendicular to the longitudinal-lateral plane - i.e. the plane of the panel in the installed position. The swivel axes of the swivel elements extend in the front-back direction, just as the pivot axes via which the inner ends of the slats are connected to the swivel elements.

In practical embodiments, as is known from the mentioned prior art, the mechanism is configured so that the slats together extend along the entire length of the first side edge of the panel. For example, the length of the latching slats assembly in the unlatched state substantially corresponds to the length of the first side edge. In embodiments wherein the slats undergo a longitudinally outwards net displacement, away from one another, when bringing the slat assembly into the latched state, the length then will exceed the length of the first side edge. Thereby the outer end portions of the slats will each protrude longitudinally relative to the first side edge. This may, in embodiments, allow for insertion of each of the outer ends of the slats into a receiving recess or indentation in the external element(s). This creates a locking similar to the espagnolette, yet combined with a sealing between the side edge and the external elements by the slats. In other embodiments, the latching mechanism is configured such that the slats undergo a net longitudinally inwards displacement when bringing the slats assembly into the latched state, or so that there is no net longitudinal displacement of the slats.

The rotary member may be embodied as a handle, a knob, or other known rotary member, e.g. configured to be manually driven by a user and/or electrically driven.

The rotary member connector for connecting to the rotary member may be embodied, as is known in the art, by providing a hole in the swivel element along the primary swivel axes that has a polygonal cross-section, for example a square cross-section as is common in the art. This hole may be fitted to a cross-section of a shaft, e.g. a rotary shaft, of the rotary member that is envisaged to be used in conjunction with the latching mechanism. In an example, the rotary member is a handle or knob with a rotary shaft that fits into the hole of the primary swivel element, the rotary shaft and the hole having complementary polygonal crosssections, wherein the swivel axis of the primary swivel element coincides with the rotary shaft when inserted into the hole.

The latching mechanism is envisaged to be fitted to the panel such that, with the panel in the proximate or closed position thereof, in the unlatched state the latching slats are each clear or spaced from the external element. The slats then do not latch the panel to the external element. When brought into the latched state, the latching slats engage the external element, thereby latching the panel thereto. In embodiments, the slats latch into a groove and/or behind one or more shoulders of the external element. This will block a motion of the first side edge of the panel, when attempting to move it out of the proximate position. Also the slats effectively extend across any gap between the first side edge and the external element.

For pivotal doors and windows, it is preferred that the external element has one or more shoulders, e.g. formed by a groove, which cover, portions of the slats in a front-back and/or back-front direction, so that a movement of the first side edge is blocked in the front-back and/or back-front direction. Generally both will be desired in practical applications. Shoulders for latching in other directions may be provided - for example blocking movements in the lateral and/or longitudinal directions. Generally these directions will in practical cases be involved with movements in the plane of the panel - which may e.g. be desirable in case the of a sliding panel. The shoulders are generally formed by walls of receiving recesses or indentations in the external element(s), for example grooves, e.g. to laterally receive the slats, or a superficial flat hole, e.g. to longitudinally receive the slats, the receiving indentations being shaped to fit, e.g. shaped complementary to, the outer end portions of the slats or a laterally outwards section of the slat.

The latching by the mechanism involves moving the latching slats both longitudinally and laterally outwards in order to bring the latching slats assembly to the latched state. The longitudinal movement may be outwardly or inwardly directed, so that the slats move in opposite longitudinal directions relative to one another. The unlatching, i.e. bringing the latching slats assembly to the unlatched state, results in the opposite movement of the slats. Relative to the unlatched state, in the latched state each one of the slats has a larger lateral distance to the swivel axes than in the unlatched state.

For example, in an application with a double door or double window, wherein the adjacent side edge of the other door or window forms the cooperating external element, the slats may be received in a groove in this adjacent side edge. Additional latching to the frame will then generally be desired as well. This is, preferably, achieved by causing sufficient net displacement of the slats in longitudinal direction away from one another so that outer ends of the slats can be received indentations or recesses of the frame.

In another example with a single door or window and an associated frame, the lateral latching to the side of the frame bordering the first side edge may be sufficient to achieve a firm latching. In such embodiments, the mechanism may be configured to that the slats undergo a net longitudinally inward displacement of the latching slats, that is, towards one another, or no net longitudinal displacement at all. When no longitudinal latching is required, a net outward longitudinal displacement of the slats, away from one another, is also possible when the length of the slats is suitably chosen.

In embodiments, the latching mechanism is configured to be mounted to the panel so that, in the unlatched state, the slats are received entirely inside a longitudinally extending, laterally inwards directed groove in the first side edge of the panel. In this case, the mechanism can be fitted to the panel such that bringing the latching slats assembly to the latched state moves the slats laterally out of this groove of the panel, or of a housing of the mechanism- and therewith out of the contour of the panel. In the latched state, the slats extend at least partly out of this groove and out of the panel contour.

For example, alike EP2426297, the panel is latched both laterally and longitudinally by the slats. The first lower slat extends with its outer end portion partly below the groove in the side edge of the panel and the second upper slat with its outer end portion partly above this groove. The laterally protruding, laterally outwards section of the slat is in this application inserted into the longitudinally extending and laterally outwards directed groove of a first external element, and the longitudinally protruding outer end portions of the slats into respective longitudinally outwards directed indentations of a second and third external element that are arranged longitudinally outwards from and adjacent the first side edge. In the commonly encountered case of a four-sided movable panel in a frame, these second and third external elements extend along a second and third side edge of the panel perpendicular and adjacent to the first side edge - in case of EP2426297, above and below the first side.

The magnitude of the lateral displacement of the slats between the unlatched and latched state may be attuned to, among others, e.g. the distance to the external element, and/or to the depth - i.e. lateral extension - of the groove in the first side edge of the panel, and/or to the depth of the groove in the first external element and/or to the lateral distance of each slat to any indentations in the external element.

In an embodiment, the mechanism is configured so that the curved trajectories of the inner end portions are such that when bringing the latching slats assembly from the unlatched to the latched state, a first section of each trajectory has a predominant outward lateral component, and a subsequent second section thereof has a predominant longitudinal component. Thus, the inner end portions first move predominantly laterally and then predominantly longitudinally during the latching movement. The result is that a predominant portion of the lateral displacement of the inner end portions is achieved before a predominant portion of the longitudinal displacement occurs. This may, in embodiments, facilitate that the latching slats are first moved with their inner end portions into engagement with the external element, followed by a gradual increasing engagement towards the outer ends of the slats. For example, the inner ends move into a longitudinal groove of the external element before the outer ends of the slats do so.

In an embodiment, such initial insertion of the inner end portions is facilitated by a suitable configuration of the guiding assembly such that the outer end portions have a trajectory of which the lateral portion is smaller than that of the inner end portions in the first section of the trajectory of the inner ends. In embodiments, thereto, the guiding assembly guides each outer end portion along a linear trajectory, or a trajectory that has a decreased curvature than that of the inner end portions. In effect, the inner end portions move laterally first, ahead of the outer end portions - the slats assuming therein a slightly slanted orientation at a small angle with the longitudinal direction. For example, a few degrees, for example in the range of 0-5°. Such may benefit a controlled, gradual, progressive and smooth latching to, e.g. including sealing between the panel and, a longitudinally extending external element. This is further illustrated in relation to the figures.

In an embodiment, e.g. to achieve the initial predominance of the lateral movement component and subsequent predominance of the longitudinal movement component of the inner end portions, a first section of the trajectory of each of the pivot axes has an angular range that is arranged between -45° and +45° from longitudinal alignment with the associated swivel axis, for example the first angular range being chosen as 0 - 45° from longitudinal alignment, and angular range of a second section is arranged between -45° and +45° from lateral alignment with the associated swivel axis, for example for example the second angular range being chosen as 0 - 45° from lateral alignment. In an example, each trajectory runs, in total, over 80 - 100° between, or including, longitudinal and lateral alignment with the associated swivel axis, e.g. the total angular range being around 90° from longitudinal to lateral alignment with the associated swivel axis. This angular movement range can be transmitted to the inner end portions connected via the pivot axes, so that the curved movement trajectories thereof exhibit a corresponding angular range. It is noted that the outwards directions are in this context considered the direction from longitudinal alignment that is associated with the positive (+) sign.

In an embodiment, e.g. to achieve the initial predominance of the lateral movement component and subsequent predominance of the longitudinal component, the curved movement trajectories of the pivot axes are circular movement trajectories, the pivot axes each having a constant, e.g. fixed, spacing from the associated swivel axis in the radial direction with respect to the swivel axis. In particular when combined with the above- mentioned angular ranges, and transmission of the circular movement to the inner end portions, the initial predominance of the lateral movement component thereof comes as a natural consequence - given the shape of sinusoidal functions. Therein the mentioned transmission is preferably as direct as possible - which may be facilitated by letting each inner end portion have a substantially constant, e.g. fixed, spacing from the associated pivot axis in the lateral direction.

In embodiments for applications wherein a longitudinal movement component is not relevant for the latching, for example wherein only lateral latching is required and a predominance of the lateral movement component in the first, and of a longitudinal movement component in the second part of the movement does not have an added value, the total angular ranges of the pivot axes can be kept smaller - for example 30 - 60°, e.g. around 45°. In embodiments the total angular range may include longitudinal alignment with the respective swivel axis, for example in the center of the range, in order for the net longitudinal displacement of the slats between the latched and unlatched position to be small or zero.

In an embodiment, the first slat is with its inner end portion connected to the primary swivel element via a first slat connector, which is in turn connected to the primary swivel element via the first pivot axis, and the second slat is with its inner end portion connected to the secondary swivel element via a second slat connector, which is in turn connected to the secondary swivel element via the second pivot axis. The slat connectors form respective lateral arms of the associated inner end portions having provided at lateral ends thereof remote from the slats the first and second pivot point, respectively. Their purpose is to each maintain a lateral spacing between the respective slat and the associated pivot axis. Thus, in this embodiment the connection between each slat and the respective swivel element is formed by both the associated slat connector and the associated pivot axis. It is envisaged that the slat connectors are each with a laterally outwards end fixed to the associated inner end portion of the respective slat, or for example integral therewith. Preferably, the associated pivot axis is connected to the slat connector at a laterally inwards end thereof, so as to keep the width - i.e. lateral extension - thereof as small as possible.

In an embodiment, the guiding assembly comprises a laterally and longitudinally outwards slanted guiding slit in each outer end portion that is configured to be engaged by a respective associated guiding pin through the guiding slit. For example, each guiding pin is mounted or mountable to the panel, as is also the case in EP2426297. In another embodiment, each guiding pin is mounted to the external element. In an example, the guiding pin is provided in a laterally outwards directed slit that extends along the length of the external element for laterally receiving the slats. The guiding pin may protrude into or through the guiding slit in the front-back direction, perpendicular to the movement trajectory, alike in the prior art. However, in an envisaged embodiment, each pin advantageously protrudes into the associated guiding slit in the same direction as the guiding slit - for example protruding in this direction from the mentioned longitudinally extending external element, e.g. protruding inside the longitudinally extending slit thereof, e.g. so as to be inserted into the guiding slit as the slat is received into the longitudinally extending slit in the movement towards the latched state.

In an embodiment, the swivel axes of the swivel elements are longitudinally aligned with one another. In an embodiment, the curved trajectories of the pivot axes are symmetrical with respect to a laterally extending symmetry axis. In an embodiment, the slats are longitudinally aligned with one another at least in the latched and unlatched state of the mechanism. These embodiments may facilitate a compact arrangement of the parts of the latching mechanism, and a compact latching mechanism in general.

In an embodiment, at least in the unlatched state of the latching slats assembly, the slats have a longitudinal overlap which includes the inner end portions, wherein in the latched state of the latching slats assembly, either the longitudinal overlap is still present and smaller than in the unlatched state, or the slats do not longitudinally overlap. This embodiment may facilitate a crosswise interconnection between the swivel elements and the slats - i.e. that the swivel element swiveling the associated pivot axis towards one longitudinal side in the latching movement is connected to the slat with its outer end portion at that longitudinal side, and the other swivel element swiveling the associated pivot axis towards the other longitudinal side is connected to the slat with its outer end portion at this other longitudinal side. This is explained further in relation to the figures.

In embodiments, along the trajectories thereof between the latched and unlatched state, the connections of the inner end portions to the associated swivel elements are located behind one another, the inner end portions extend behind one another, and/or the slat connectors, when present, extend behind one another. These embodiments may further facilitate a compact arrangement of the parts of the latching mechanism, and a compact latching mechanism in general, in particular when the mentioned crosswise interconnection is applied. In an embodiment, the secondary swivel element is operatively connected to the primary swivel element such that the swiveling of the secondary swivel element around the secondary swivel axis is oppositely directed to the swiveling of the primary swivel element.

In an example, to achieve the opposite interdependent swiveling of the swivel elements, the primary and secondary swivel elements are each cogged, for example along their circumference. For example, the swivel elements are cogged only over a portion of the circumference, over a certain angular range. For example, the cogged portion has the shape of a circle segment, the angular range thereof being adapted to the range over which the pivot axes are swiveled in bringing the latching slats assembly from the unlatched to the latched state. The cogs of both swivel elements mesh or interlock, so that the primary and secondary swivel elements swivel interdependently and oppositely over an angular range, corresponding to the meshing cogged portions. In an example, the angular range of each cogged circumferential portion is 80 - 100°, e.g. around 90°, for example in cases where initial predominance of lateral movement of the inner end portions is beneficial. In other examples the swivel elements are cogged over the whole circumference, e.g. where this eases production for example if the swivel elements are machined from already available gears. In other examples the swivel elements are cogged over 30 - 60°, e.g. around 45°, for example in cases where the longitudinal component of the inner ends is not relevant in the latching.

In an embodiment, to achieve longitudinally outwards displacing slats, one of the slats which has its outer end portion at one longitudinal side is connected to the one of the swivel elements which swivels the associated pivot axis towards that longitudinal side in the movement of the latching mechanism to the latched state, and the other one of the slats, which, thus, has its outer end portion at the opposite longitudinal side, is connected to the one of the swivel elements which swivels the associated pivot axis towards that opposite longitudinal side in the movement of the latching mechanism to the latched state, so that the slats move longitudinally away from each other in bringing the latching slats assembly from the unlatched to the latched position, so as to increase the length thereof. An embodiment with longitudinally inwardly displacing slats, thus towards one another, may be achieved by interconnecting the slats to the other respective swivel elements.

In an embodiment, the latching assembly comprises a locking device, preferably configured to block swiveling of one or, more preferably, both swivel elements so as to prevent a movement of the slats involved in bringing the latching slats assembly out of the latched state and towards the unlatched state. In an embodiment, the primary and secondary swivel elements each comprise a stop cam which protrudes from the swivel element, preferably in radial direction with respect to the associated swivel axis. For example, the stop cams each comprise a respective engaging edge which faces in the direction of the swivel direction of the respective swivel element when bringing the latching slats assembly out of the latched state and towards the unlatched state. These stop cams and edges thereof are configured to be engaged by respective locking elements of a locking device for blocking swiveling of the swivel elements, and thus movement of the slats involved in bringing the latching slats assembly out of the latched state and towards the unlatched state. Therein, obviously, the swivel elements are swiveled oppositely compared to bringing the latching slats assembly from the unlatched to the latched state.

A prior art locking device suited for use with a latching mechanism is disclosed in EP2426297A1, in particular in relation to figures 21 - 24 thereof. The locking device has an unlocked state, in which movements of the transmission assembly involved with bringing the latching slats assembly from the unlatched state to the latched state thereof and vice versa are free from the locking device. Thus, these movements are not hindered by the prior art locking device. The prior art locking device comprises a rotatable lock cylinder with a keyhole. A user-driven rotation of a key inserted in the keyhole around a cylinder swivel axis causes a lock pawl protruding radially from the cylinder to engage and move along an inner guiding edge of a locking element - this inner guiding edge surrounding the cylinder. By the engagement of and movement along the inner guiding edge by the lock pawl, a swiveling of the locking element is caused which brings it into engagement with one of the swivel elements of the latching mechanism. In particular, the locking element engages, by a respective engaging edge thereof, an engaging edge of a radial cam of the swivel element in a tangential direction of the swivel element that is opposite to the tangential direction of the swivel element of a swiveling thereof involved with bringing the latching assembly from the latched state into the unlatched state. Thereby the engagement blocks such swiveling. The purpose of the prior art lock mechanism is to prevent unauthorized unlatching of a latched panel such that the panel can be moved out of its first position - e.g. its closed position - e.g. by pushing the latching slats back towards the first side edge of the panel.

The locking device of EP2426297A1 has several drawbacks. Firstly, only one of the swivel elements is engaged by the locking element and thus blocked from being pushed back for unlatching. This may introduce a vulnerability in terms of compromised reliability of the locking. When the slat that is connected to the not engaged swivel element is forced towards unlatching, the chain of interconnected parts between this slat and the interface of the locking element and the engaged swivel element may be heavily strained - as the actual blocking of the movement thereof takes place only at this interface. Furthermore, unauthorized forcing of both latching slats simultaneously back towards unlatching, or with a high force, may result in failure at the interface, e.g. cause sliding apart of the engaged edges, or of one of the parts of the locking device, at a force level lower than desired. Secondly, the locking element itself requires locking in the locked state, in order to prevent a movement thereof back to the unlocked state. Therefore the locking device needs provisions to block the locking element in the relevant direction. Thirdly, the retainer element has a limited angular range for its swivelling movement, is shaped awkwardly, and takes up a large area in the lateral-longitudinal plane.

To address these drawbacks, the invention provides for improvements of the locking device.

In an embodiment, the locking device comprises a primary locking element and a secondary locking element with respective swivel axes for swiveling the locking elements between an unlocked and locked position thereof, thereby bringing the locking device from the unlocked state into in a locked state. In an embodiment, the locking elements each engage a cam, e.g. by a respective engaging edge thereof, of a respective swivel element, so as to block a swiveling thereof associated with bringing the latching assembly from the latched state into the unlatched state. By this configuration, it is achieved that not only one, but both of the swivel elements of the latching mechanism are engaged by a respective locking element, so that there is a blocking effective for both of them. This may lead to a more robust and reliable locking, as the latching mechanism is engaged at two interfaces with the latching mechanism, which may be able to withstand higher external pushing forces and reduce the strain on the parts of the latching mechanism between the swivel elements.

In an embodiment, the secondary locking element is operatively connected to the primary locking element via a transmission for swiveling of the secondary locking element into the engagement with the secondary swivel element caused by the swiveling of the primary locking element. Embodiments of this locking device are defined in subclaims and further explained in relation to the figures.

In an embodiment, the angular direction of the swiveling of each locking element, with respect to the swivel axis thereof, involved with bringing the locking device from the unlocked to the locked state thereof, is opposite to the angular direction of the swiveling of the respective engaged swivel element, with respect to the swivel axis thereof, involved with bringing the latching slats assembly from the latched to the unlatched state thereof. Thus, compared to the mentioned prior art locking device, the locking takes place in the opposite angular direction. Advantageously, this enables that given the swiveling of the locking element for achieving locking, now a further swiveling in the same direction needs to be blocked to keep the locking element in place in the locked state of the mechanism. This may in practice be easier to realize than locking in the direction opposite to this swiveling, e.g. by letting the locking element swivel against a stationary element with an internal or external edge thereof directed in the further swiveling direction. Embodiments of this locking device are defined in subclaims and further explained in relation to the figures.

In an embodiment, the locking device provides that a lock pawl in its movement around a cylinder swivel axis not only engages the locking elements for swivelling thereof, but also a front and/or back retainer element, e.g. a front and back retainer element sandwiching the locking elements in the front-back direction. In the unlocked and locked state, the retainer element(s) maintain a position of the locking element relative thereto. By the movement of the lock pawl, the locking element can be released from the respective positions. Thereto the retainer element(s) comprise an inner guiding edge alike in the prior art, which is at least in a central portion of the movement of the lock pawl engaged, causing in this portion both a movement of the retainer elements which releases the locking element and the swivelling of the locking element for moving the locking device to the locked or unlocked state.

Relative to the mentioned prior art, wherein the locking element itself has the inner guiding edge, and the swivelling thereof is caused by the movement of the lock pawl therein pushing the locking element during engagement of the inner guiding edge, the causing of the swivelling of the locking element is made independent from an engagement of the inner guiding edge, by providing this guiding edge to another element relative to which the locking element moves. This enables the shape of the locking element to be less awkward and smaller, as it no longer has to extend around the inner guiding edge, and the swivelling of the locking element to be less limited in range, e.g. given lateral and longitudinal borders of a housing of the mechanism. Furthermore, the retainer element(s) can advantageously provide maintaining the locking element in position in the locked and unlocked state, as these can remain rotationally stationary. Lastly, the retainer elements may in embodiments additionally provide guidance of the swivel element during the swivelling movement thereof.

Embodiments of this locking device are defined in subclaims and further explained in relation to the figures. Embodiments of the locking devices as discussed herein may be combined with one another to achieve combined advantageous effects.

The invention furthermore relates to a panel arrangement comprising the latching mechanism as described herein, for example a window fitting arrangement or a door fitting arrangement.

The invention furthermore relates to an assembly of a rotary member and a latching mechanism according to the invention, wherein the rotary member is configured for a rotationally fixed connection to the primary swivel element of the latching mechanism via the rotary member connector thereof.

In an embodiment the rotary member is a handle or knob with a shaft, wherein the rotary member connector is adapted to receive the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, and is arranged such that the swivel axis of the primary swivel element coincides with the shaft.

As is known from the prior art, a rotary member may have a shaft that projects both at the inside and the outside the panel.

The invention furthermore relates to an assembly of a movable panel and a latching mechanism according to the invention. The mechanism is mountable or mounted to the panel with the slats extending along a first side edge thereof, e.g. wherein the movable panel is a four-sided door or a window, e.g. wherein the first side edge is a vertical side of the panel.

In an embodiment, the mechanism is configured such that, in a mounted state, the slats together extend along the entire length, or height, of the first side edge. In an embodiment, the length of the latching slats assembly in the unlatched state corresponds to the length of the first side edge, and in the latched state exceeds the length of the first side edge, with the outer end portions of the slats protruding longitudinally outwards relative to the first side edge.

In an embodiment, the locking device of the latching mechanism is configured as a separate device that can be mounted to the part of the latching mechanism having the swiveling elements that are to be locked by the latching mechanism. A second aspect of the invention relates to a locking device embodied as a separate device and embodied as described herein.

For example, the locking device is configured, e.g. as a separate device, to be combined with a latching mechanism for a movable panel, for example a door or window, which mechanism is configured for latching the panel to at least one external element in a proximate position of a first side edge of the panel relative to the external element, the latching mechanism comprising: a latching slats assembly comprising an elongate first slat and an elongate second slat, both extending in a longitudinal direction of the latching mechanism, with respective inner end portions of the slats proximate each other, and with respective outer end portions remote from each other so as to define therebetween a length of the latching slats assembly, a transmission assembly connected to the latching slats assembly and configured to, driven by an operable rotary member, bring the latching slats assembly from an unlatched state to a latched state, the transmission assembly comprising swivel elements and a rotary member connector for connection thereof to the rotary member, wherein each swivel element is connected to the inner end portion of a respective one of the slats, a guiding assembly cooperating with the latching slats assembly and configured for guiding the outer end portions of the slats, wherein the latching mechanism is configured to be mounted to the panel with the slats extending along the first side edge, and the slat having a lateral movement component of the extending in the plane of the panel, directed away from the first side edge, and wherein the swivel elements of transmission assembly comprise:

- a primary swivel element and a secondary swivel element, wherein the inner end portion of the first slat is connected to the primary swivel element and wherein the inner end portion of the second slat is connected to the secondary swivel element.

For example, the locking device of the second aspect of the invention is provided with one or more of the features disclosed in subclaims 13 - 19.

The invention will now be described with reference to the appended figures. Therein: figures 1a-d show a latching mechanism according to the prior art, figures 2a-d show an embodiment latching mechanism according to the invention with a locking device, wherein the latching mechanism is in the unlatched state and the locking device is in the unlocked state, figure 2e shows the same embodiment in the same view, wherein the latching mechanism is in the latched state and the locking device is in the locked state, figure 3a shows the same embodiment, wherein the latching mechanism is in the unlatched state and the locking device is in the unlocked state, figure 3b shows the same embodiment in the same view, wherein the latching mechanism is halfway between the unlatched state and the latched state, and the locking device is in the unlocked state, figure 3c shows the same embodiment in the same view, wherein the latching mechanism is in the latched state and the locking device is in the unlocked state, figures 4a-b both show the same embodiment in five successive stages of the latching movement, figures 5a-f show the same embodiment in six successive stages of the locking movement.

The figures show in the figures 1a-d a panel arrangement according to the prior art as disclosed in EP2426297.

In figures 2 - 5 a panel arrangement comprising a latching mechanism 100 according to the invention including a locking device 200 is shown. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numeral as in the prior art figures 1a-d.

Referring to figures 1a-c to illustrate the main principle based on the prior art, the latching mechanism 1 is shown in an installation position in which it is provided to a panel 500, e.g. a door or window, at a first side edge 501 thereof.

The latching mechanism 1 comprises a latching slat assembly with a first elongate slat 101 , here a lower slat 101 , and a second elongate slat 102, here an upper slat 102. The slats 101, 102 may be similar and are arranged in opposite longitudinal directions.

The latching slat assembly has an unlatched state, shown in figures 1a-b, and a latched state, shown in figures 1c-d. Figures 1a and 1c are front views of a lateral-longitudinal crosssection, that is, a cross-section in the x-z directions, wherein the slats longitudinally extend in the x-direction. In figures 1b and 1d the mechanism is shown in a lateral and front-back directed plane at cross-section A-A’, indicated in figures 1a,c, in a top view. As is shown in figures 1c-d, in the latched state, the slats 101, 102 are displaced both longitudinally away from each other, and laterally away from the panel 500, with respect to the unlatched state shown in figures 1a-b. By the progression from figure 1a to 1c, it is shown that, whereas the slats 101 ,102 extend inside the contour of the panel 500 in the unlatched state, the combined longitudinal and lateral displacement causes the slats 101 ,102 to extend outside of the contour of the panel 500 at the first edge, here a vertical edge. The displacement causes outer end portions 101e, 102e of the slats 101 , 102 to be inserted in respective receiving indentations 301 of laterally extending external elements 300 which are proximate the side 501 of the panel 500 at respective longitudinal sides thereof. This blocks a movement of the upper end 101e, and thus of the panel 500 it is mounted to, in the directions against the walls of the indentation 301 , as the upper slat 101 latches there behind. Thereby the mechanism 1 latches the panel 500 to the external elements 300. Furthermore, the lateral displacement causes the slats to be inserted in a longitudinally extending receiving groove 401 of a longitudinally extending external element 400 which is proximate the side 501 of the panel 500, lateral from the panel 500. Thereby the mechanism 1 latches the panel 500 to the external element 400 as well. This latching is achieved along the entire length of the slats, so that a firm latching can be achieved. Furthermore, sealing longitudinally along the entire length of the side edge 501 may be achieved, e.g. to prevent air draft, fire safety, and/or thermal and sound isolation. The longitudinal groove 401 may in practice for example machined in a vertical side of another panel facing the slats and forming the external element 400, or in an associated longitudinal side of a frame of the panel 500.

The combined longitudinal and lateral displacement of the slats 101 ,102 is driven by a, in this view, counterclockwise swiveling by 90 degrees of a handle 505 by a user around a handle axis 505x, see figures 1 b,d. In this case the handle is a knob 505. The handle 505 has a shaft 505s with a square cross-section. This shaft 505s is inserted in respective square shaft receiving holes 108 of a primary swivel element 6 and a secondary swivel element 7 of a transmission assembly of the prior art latching mechanism 1 , which swivel elements 6, 7 are arranged behind one another - thus in the y-direction. The handle 505 is mounted to the panel 500 such that the handle 505 including the shaft 505s is rotatable around the handle axis 505x.

The swivel elements 6, 7 are in this prior art mechanism 1 embodied as cam parts which swivel around respective swivel axes 6x, 7x, which both coincide with handle axis 505x when the shaft 505s of the handle 505 is inserted in the shaft receiving holes 108, see figures 1 b,d. The cam parts 6,7 each comprise a circular part enclosing the respective hole 108 and a, with respect to swivel axis 6x radially, protruding cam. In particular, this cam is in the form of a bulb-shaped projection from the circular part, such that the circumference of the cam part 6, 7 approximates the shape of the number ‘8’.

The cam parts 6, 7 are arranged to extend inside respective apertures of first and second slat connector 3 and 4, which are at a laterally outward side joined with the first and second slat 101 and 102, respectively - i.e. the lower and upper slats 101 , 102. The aperture has an inner circumference which complements respective parts of the outer circumference of the cam part 6, so that the first and second slat connectors 4 are here embodied as a respective cam followers 3, 4 for the cams. A counterclockwise swiveling of the cam parts 6, 7 around the swivel axes 6x, 7x results in the bulb-shaped cams engaging the inner circumferences of the cam followers 3, 4, and causing a displacement thereof around the swivel axes 6x, 7x. Therewith, the respectively joined slats 101, 102 are set to displace correspondingly.

The inner end portions 101i, 102i of the slats 101, 102 are displaced along a curved trajectory when the latching mechanism 100 is moved between the unlatched and latched state, and the outer end portions 101e, 102e of the slats 101, 102 are guided along a linear trajectory. This is established by means of a straight, laterally and longitudinally outwardly directed slanted guiding slit 109s, provided at each other end 101e, 102e, and a guiding pin 109p fixed to the side 501 of the panel 500 which engages inside the guiding slit 109s.

The x-z orientation of the cam followers 3, 4 remains substantially unchanged during the movement of the latching mechanism 1 from the unlatched to the latched state thereof - which is a consequence of the fact that the x-z orientation of the slats 101, 102 joined therewith does not substantially change. The displacement of the cam followers 3, 4 by the engagement of their inner circumferences by the cam parts 6, 7 therefore involve a simultaneous pivoting of the cam parts 6, 7 relative to the cam followers 3, 4. This pivoting involves a sliding movement of the outer circumference of the cam parts 6, 7 relative to the inner circumference of the cam followers 3, 4 along the interface therebetween. This sliding involves friction at the interface, which may negatively affect a smooth and reliable operation of the mechanism. Furthermore, the compactness of the mechanism may not be satisfactory in some applications - in particular in the lateral-longitudinal plane.

The present invention proposes a latching mechanism 100 which may provide an improved robustness, compactness and efficiency of the latching mechanism 100 when compared to the prior art. It is firstly referred to figures 2a-c,e to illustrate the inventive concept - which resides in a different arrangement and embodiment of the slat connectors 103, 104 and of the swivel elements 106, 107 than in the prior art.

The primary swivel element 106 has swivel axis 106x. Alike in the prior art, it is configured for a rotationally fixed connection 108 to the shaft of a user-operable handle for driving a swiveling of the primary swivel element 106 around the primary swivel axis 106x through the shaft when connected, the primary swivel axis 106x extending in the front-back direction y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction z of the slats 101,102. The rotationally fixed connection 108 is embodied as a hole with a polygonal, namely square, cross-section to receive a portion of the handle shaft 505s with a corresponding polygonal, namely square, cross-section.

The secondary swivel element 107 is operatively connected to the primary swivel element 106 for swiveling of the secondary swivel element 107 around a secondary swivel axis 107x caused by, and oppositely directed to, the swiveling of the primary swivel element 106.

Whereas in the prior art mechanism the swivel elements 6, 7 swivel both separately dependent on the swiveling of the handle rotary shaft 505s, to move the slats 101, 102 apart, a compact and more robust arrangement is possible when the swivel elements 106,107 are swiveled interdependently from one another about their own separate and spaced apart swivel axes 106x, 107x.

Having both swivel elements 106, 107 swivel about their own respective swivel axes 106x, 107x, enables to arrange the connection thereof to the slats 101, 102 such that these connections are driven longitudinally towards one another by the swiveling, instead of away from each other alike in the prior art, for achieving that the slats 101 ,102 move longitudinally apart. This possibility enables a more compact arrangement with the slats 101, 102 being crosswise connected to the swivel elements 106, 107, alike in the depicted embodiment.

Note that the slats 101, 102 are substantially covered by protective plates 110 for safety purposes. In the figures, therefore the slats 101, 102 are only partly visible or not at all - so that dashed lines are provided to indicate their contours.

In the depicted embodiment, the swivel elements 106, 107 swivel interdependently in opposite angular directions. The pivot axes 103p, 104p are moved at the same lateral side from the swivel axes 106x, 107x. In other embodiments, wherein the swivel elements swivel in corresponding angular directions, the pivot axes may be moved at opposite lateral sides from the swivel axes 106x, 107x to achieve that the connected slats 101 , 102 are moved in opposite longitudinal directions.

In the depicted embodiment, the connection of the first slat 101 with the primary swivel element 106 is formed by the first slat connector 103, which is in turn both connected to the inner end portion 101 i of the first slat 101 and to the primary swivel element 106 via first pivot axis 103p. Similarly, the connection of the second slat 102 with the secondary swivel element 107 is formed by the second slat connector 104, which is in turn both connected to the inner end portion 102i of the second slat 102 and to the secondary swivel element 107 via second pivot axis 104p.

The working principle making use of the inventive configuration is illustrated by figures 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2e. Therein figure 2a shows the latching mechanism 100 in the unlatched state, and figure 2e in the latched state. Figures 2b, c illustrate the displacements of the swivel elements 106, 107, the slat connectors 103,104, and the slats 101 , 102 that is involved with moving the mechanism 100 from the unlatched state of figure 2a to the latched state of figure 2e. It is indicated in figure 1e that in the latched state, the first slat 101 is displaced upwards over a distance Az i relative to the unlatched state of figure 1a. The second slat 102 is displaced downwards over the same distance AZ102. The slats 101 , 102 are both displaced laterally outwards over the same distances Ax i, AX102.

As shown, the crosswise connection of the slats 101 , 102 to the swivel elements 106, 107 entails firstly, that the connection of the first slat 101 , that is to move in a first longitudinally outwards direction for latching - i.e. downwards in the depicted embodiment, moves towards the connection 104,104p of the second slat 102 with the secondary swivel element 107 - i.e. counterclockwise in the depicted embodiment - when moving the first slat 101 in this first longitudinally outwards direction. Vice versa, the connection of the second slat 102, that is to move in a second longitudinally outwards direction for latching - i.e. upwards in the depicted embodiment, opposite to the first longitudinally outwards direction of the first slat 101 , moves towards the connection 103,103p of the first slat 101 with the primary swivel element 106. By this crosswise configuration, driving the connections 103,103p and 104,104p towards one another moves the connected slats 101 , 102 away from each other.

The crosswise connection entails in the depicted embodiment that the inner end portions 101 i, 102i are moved inwardly towards one another, in order to move the outer end portions 101e, 102e away from each other. This involves a longitudinal overlap h i,io2 of the slats 101 , 102 in between the inner end portions 101 i, 102i, which decreases in the movement towards the latched state. The shape and arrangement of the connections 103,103p and 104,104p between the slats 101 , 102 and the swivel elements 106, 107 towards one another, makes on the other hand that the slat connectors 103, 104 actually increasingly overlap in this movement towards the latched state.

Thus, in the shown latching mechanism 100, by user-driven swiveling of the primary swivel element 106 via the handle shaft and consequent swiveling of the secondary transmission element 107, the pivot axes 103p,104p, and therewith, the connected inner end portions 101 i, 102i are movable along respective circular movement trajectories, along which outward and inward lateral movements of the inner end portions 101 i, 102i, moving the latching mechanism 100 respectively towards the latched and unlatched state thereof, are respectively correlated with longitudinal movements of the slats 101 ,102 away from and towards one other. The movement trajectories in the x-z plane are schematically indicated in figure 2b for the swivel elements 106, 107, for the slat connectors 103, 104, for the inner end portions 101 i, 102i of the slats 101 , 102, and for the outer end portions 101 e, 102e thereof, by means of the closed arrows. Therein the reference symbol Axz e denotes the trajectory of the element 106, Axz ? denotes that of element 107, and so on.

The configuration with the oppositely swiveling swivel elements, and the crosswise connection to the slats may advantageously lead to an improved ratio between the range of movement realized by the mechanism and the geometrical occupation, or compactness, thereof. Thus, with the same use of space, particularly in the x-y plane, a larger movement can be realized for the inner end portions 101 i, 102i of the slats 101 , 102.

The possibility of the slats 101 , 102 and slat connectors 103, 104 to overlap facilitates this configuration, and may advantageously lead to a particularly compact and effective transmission of the swiveling of the user handle to the desired displacement trajectory of the slats 101 , 102.

In the shown embodiment the primary and secondary swivel elements 106, 107 swivel over around an angular range of around a quarter of a rotation - that is, around 90 degrees, to move the mechanism 100 from the unlatched to the latched state. The pivoting connection of the slats 101 , 102 with the swivel elements 106, 107 via the slat connectors 103, 104 enables that the swiveling of the handle 505 is converted into a curved trajectory of the inner end portions 101 i, 102i of the slats 101 , 102 over the same angular range. The range runs from a position of the pivot axes 103p, 104p longitudinally aligned with the respective swivel axes 106x, 107x to a position thereof wherein these are laterally aligned therewith. The consequence is that a first part of the movement trajectory from the unlatched to the latched state, the inner end portions 101 i, 102i move predominantly laterally outwards, and in a last part of the movement trajectory, predominantly vertically outwards.

This can be furthermore verified from figures 3a-c. These depict the latching mechanism 100 in a perspective view from behind the latching mechanism 100 - note therein that the mechanism 100 is viewed from the front in figures 2a-c, and from the back in figures 3a-c. In figure 3a, the latching mechanism 100 is in the unlatched state and the pivot axes 103p, 104p are longitudinally aligned with the swivel axes 106x, 107x of the swivel elements 106, 107. In figure 4b, the latching mechanism 100 is in the middle between the unlatched and latched state - the pivot axes 103p, 104p have swiveled towards one another over an angle of around 45° around the swivel axes 106x, 107x from the unlatched state. It is visible therein that the inner end portions of the latching rods have been partly moved out of the contour of the panel 500 in a predominantly lateral direction. Note that also here, the latching rods are substantially covered by protective plates 110 so that in this view only a small portion of the latching rod 101 is visible. In figure 3c, the swivel elements 106, 107 have swiveled further over an angle of around 45° to the latched state, wherein the pivot axes 103p, 104p are laterally aligned with the swivel axes 106x, 107x. From the fact that the first latching rod 101 has been exposed much further in the longitudinal direction in this second part of the movement than it has in the first part of the movement, i.e. between figures 3a and 3b, it can be verified that this second part of the movement involves predominantly longitudinal movement of the latching rods 101,102.

Unlike the inner end portions 101 i, 102i, the outer end portions 101e, 102e are, alike in the prior art, purposely guided along a slanted linear trajectory, directed laterally and longitudinally outwards. In figure 2c, the relative movement trajectories of the inner end portions 101 i, 102i are illustrated together, with corresponding start points and end points, so as to clarify how these are guided to displace relative to one another.

The predominance of the laterally outward direction in the first part of the movement trajectory of the inner end portions 101 i, 102i, and the pivoting connection with the swivel elements 106, 107 enables a movement of the complete slats 101 , 102, bringing the latching slats assembly from the unlatched to the latched state, which resembles a cutting movement of a knife. This is illustrated in figures 4a, b, which each show from left to right the progression of the inner and outer end portions, and the resulting positions and orientations of the slats 101 , 102, as the primary swivel element 106 is driven to swivel about the primary swivel axis 106x. The situation is illustrated, from left to right, for the unlatched state, for intermediate positions, and for the latched state. It is shown that the inner end portions 101 i, 102i move outwards first, ahead of the remainder of the slats 101, 102, and cause a slightly slanted orientation of the slats 101, 102 with respect to the vertical. Progressing further causes the remainder of the slats 101, 102 to increasingly move outwards as well, decreasing the slant of the slats 101, 102, and progressing towards a vertical orientation thereof again. Whereas the inner end portions 101 i, 102i move predominantly laterally, i.e. leftwards in the illustrated case, in the first part of the movement, the slats 101, 102 move predominantly longitudinally - i.e. vertically in this embodiment, in the last part of the movement, wherein these are longitudinally inserted with the outer end portions 101e, 102e in the respective receiving indentations 301 of the laterally extending external elements 300.

To achieve the cutting movement, the latching mechanism 100 thus makes use of the shape of the sinusoidal functions relating displacements in orthogonal directions to angular displacements for making the inner end portions 101 i, 102i move firstly predominantly laterally out of the contour of the side edge 501 , and thereafter predominantly longitudinally towards the indentations 301. It is again referred to figure 2, illustrating the curved trajectory of the inner end portions 101 i, 102i relative to the linearly moving outer end portions 101e, 102e in one diagram.

The cutting movement may improve the effective latching to the longitudinally extending external element 400, in particular when the slats are laterally received in the longitudinally extending groove thereof. The cutting movement achieves that the inner end portions are introduced first in the groove 401 , after which the remainder of the length of each slat 101 , 102 is gradually introduced in the direction from the inner end portion 101 i, 102i thereof towards the outer end 101e, 102e. The gradual introduction helps to achieve that each slat is received in the groove 401 along the entire length thereof, even where the internal shape, orientation and/or position of the slit 401 initially does not fit well with the slats to be introduced, e.g. deviates slightly from that of the slats to be introduced. The cutting movement may gently wriggle the slats and/or slit into a shape, orientation and/or position that makes these mate after all. An initial slight deviation between the receiving slit and the slats often occurs in practice. For example, where the external element 400 is a second panel, e.g. a second door or window e.g. within the same window or door frame, which is mounted, or over time displaced, distorted or deformed to be, slightly offset, slanted or warped relative to the side edge 501 of the panel 500 to which the latching mechanism 100 is provided. The same can occur for example where the external element 400 is a longitudinal part of a frame enclosing the panel 500. Causes may be for example inaccuracies during installation, weather influences, or simply prolonged or intensive use. When the slats 101, 102 and the associated receiving slit 401 have a larger length, for example in case of a door, or a window with a large height, slight deviations in shapes are generally more likely. The present invention providing the gradual introduction of the slats 101 , 102 into the slit 401 in the described fashion, may provide a robust and reliable latching, in particular in these practical situations.

The depicted latching mechanism 100 enabling to realize a more effective transmission of the handle swiveling, and a larger movement of the inner end portions 101 i, 102i of the slats 101 , 102, by means of the oppositely swiveling swivel elements 106, 107 and the crosswise configuration, makes that this cutting movement may advantageously also be improved - and therewith, the latching to the longitudinal external element 400. Furthermore, an improved firmness of the latching, and an improved sealing function of the slats may be achieved as the lateral displacement may be larger - so that for example the slats 101, 102 are moved further outwards from the panel contour and possibly also further into the receiving slit 400, increasing the area of the effective interface therewith.

The embodiment of the inventive latching mechanism 100 shown in the figures provides the oppositely directed swiveling of the swivel elements 106, 107 to be interdependent, wherein only the primary swivel element 106 is connectable to the rotary shaft 505s to be driven by the swiveling of the handle 505. The swiveling of the secondary swivel element 107 is driven by the swiveling of the primary swivel element 106, and thus indirectly driven by the swiveling of the handle 505.

In contrast, in the prior art, both swivel elements 6, 7 are driven directly by the shaft 505s of the handle 505 engaging both swivel elements 6,7 via shaft receiving holes 108 - see figures 1a-c. This requires that both swivel elements have the same swivel axis coinciding with the handle axis 505x through the shaft receiving holes 108 - so that these are placed behind one another - i.e. in the y-direction, and both swivel in the same angular direction. This entails that in order to move the latching rods 101 , 102 in opposite longitudinal directions, a transmission to opposite directions has to be realized between the swivel elements and the inner end portions 101 i, 102i of the latching rods 101, 102. This is done in the prior art by the specific shape of the cam parts and the internal apertures of the cam followers 3, 4, so that the cam followers 3, 4 are set to move in longitudinally opposite directions.

This awkward transmission is advantageously no longer needed in the inventive mechanism 100. Each swivel element 106, 107 swivels around a respective distinct swivel axis, spaced from the other swivel axis. The apertures inside the cam followers 3, 4 are omitted - and replaced by pivoting connections 103p, 104p radially spaced from the associated swivel axes 106x, 107x, which follow the already opposite swiveling motion of the swivel elements 106, 107. This replacement may benefit the robust, effective and reliable operation of the transmission assembly of the latching mechanism 100. The slat connectors 103, 104 do not have to be sized and shaped in the longitudinal-lateral plane to the cam following apertures, so that these may be embodied more compact and more simple. The issues with friction between the cams and internal edges of the apertures, involved in the mutual pivoting there between during cam following, are eliminated.

Furthermore, the pivotal connections 103p, 104p may provide a more direct and reliable transmission of the swiveling motion from the swivel elements to the slat connectors 103, 104 than the cam following arrangement. The need to connect both of the swivel elements to the rotary shaft 505s is avoided, so that the placement behind one another, the attuning of thicknesses of these elements to each other and to the rotary shaft 505s, and the restriction in this y-direction is avoided. Possible friction between the swivel elements 106, 107 in the x- y plane around the shaft 505s is eliminated, and installation may be easier as there is only one receiving hole 108 involved in the connection with the shaft 505s. The fact that the secondary swivel element 107 has its own distinct swivel axis, enables it to via the swivel axis be pivotally connected to the panel 500, instead of the shaft 505s, which may further benefit robust operation.

In an installation position, the mounting of the operating handle to the panel results in the steam of the operating handle being stationary relative to the panel in at least the verticallateral plane. Thereby the square hole 108 and the swivel axis 106x are stationary relative to the panel 500. In the installation position, the swivel axis 107x of the secondary swivel element 107 is stationarily mounted relative to the panel as well.

In the shown embodiment, to achieve the interdependent and oppositely directed swiveling thereof, the primary and secondary swivel elements 106, 107 are each cogged along a respective portion of the circumference. This circumferential portion has the shape of a circle segment with an angular range corresponding to the range over which the pivot axes 103p, 104p, and thus the inner end portions 101 i, 102i, are swiveled for moving from the unlatched to the latched state and vice versa - in this case about 90 degrees. The cogs of both swivel elements 106, 107 mesh with each other, so that the swiveling of the primary swivel element results in an oppositely directed swiveling movement of the secondary swivel element 107 around the swivel axis 107x over an angular range corresponding to the cogged portions of the circumferences.

In the shown embodiment, the upper slat connector 103 is integral with the inner end portion 101 i of the upper slat 101 , and the lower slat connector 104 is integral with the inner end portion 102i of the lower slat 102 - see e.g. figures 2a-c,e. The slat connectors 103, 104 extend laterally from the slats 101, 102. In fact, the slat connectors 102, 103 form laterally inward protrusions of the inner end portions 101 i, 102i of the associated slats 101 , 102. In the shown embodiment the slat connectors 103, 104 are in the form of metal plates. The slat connectors 103,104 form respective lateral arms of the associated inner end portions 101 i, 102i having at lateral ends thereof remote from the slats 101,102 the first and second pivot point 103p,104p, respectively, so as to maintain a lateral distance between the slats 101 , 102 and the pivot points 103p, 104p.

The swiveling of the swivel elements 106, 107 whilst progressing to the latched state, involves movement of the slat connectors 103, 104 towards each other. In the latched state, the slat connectors 103,104 overlap for a major part of their extension in the x-z plane. To facilitate this overlap the slat connectors 103, 104 are arranged behind one another, in parallel vertical-lateral planes. The positioning of the slat connectors 103,104 behind one another enables the slat connectors 103, 104 to move past one another unhindered in the movement between the unlatched and latched state. This feature contributes to a compact configuration of the latching mechanism.

The slats 101, 102 extend behind one another as well in the overlapping portion h i,io2 of their lengths. As the slats move vertically away from each other while progressing from the unlatched state to the latched state, this overlapping portion decreases - compare figures 2a and 2e. The positioning behind one another in the vertical overlap enables the inner end portions 101 i, 102i of the slats 101, 102 to move past one another unhindered along the same longitudinal line.

In the installation position, the latching mechanism 100 and the locking device are sandwiched by retainer plates on the front and back side, to shield the mechanism from the environment and restrict the movement of its parts in the front and back direction - i.e. the y- directions. The handle 505 is placed on at least one of the retainer plates, e.g. in case of a window as the panel 500, only on the retainer plate that is at the indoor side of the utility space to which it is provided, or e.g. in case of a door as the panel 500, on both sides, thus on both of the retainer plates. These retainer plates are held together by, among others, a mounting element 105, for example a pin, screw or bolt. To omit interference with this mounting element 105 during latching and unlatching, the upper slat connector 103 has a curved upper guiding edge 103e, and the lower slat connector 104 has a curved lower guiding edge 104e - indicated in figure 2a. These curved guiding edges 103e, 104e enable the slat connectors 103, 104 to move alongside the stationary mounting element 105 during the movement between the unlatched and latched state of the mechanism 100.

In the latched state of the latching slats assembly, the mounting element 105 is received in respective indentations of the curved guiding edges 103e, 104e. The longitudinally directed edges of these indentations block a further movement of the latching slat connectors 103, 104 - and thus the pivot axes 103x, 104x, and the latching slats 101, 102 in the direction involved with latching. The laterally inwards directed edges of these indentations block a movement of the latching slat connectors as a consequence of a laterally inwards pushing force onto the inner ends 101 i, 102i of the latching slats 101 , 102, e.g. in an unauthorized attempt to bring the latching slats assembly back into the unlatched state.

The figures furthermore illustrate the locking device 200 for use with the latching mechanism 100, in order to lock the panel 500 to the external elements 300, 400 after latching. The locking device 200 has an unlocked state, shown in figure 5a, and a locked state, shown in figure 5f.

Figures 5a - f show successive stages of a movement of the locking device 200 from the unlocked to the locked state thereof.

Figure 2d indicates the movements of different parts. However, it is noted that figure 2d is a perspective front view whereas figures 5a-d are rear views. Furthermore figure 2d shows the movements in the unlatched state of the latching mechanism 100 instead of the latched state.

Figure 2e shows the latching mechanism in the latched state and the locking device 200 in the locked state.

As is the case in known prior art, see e.g. EP2426297 in relation to figures 21 - 24 thereof, a movement of the locking device 200 from the unlocked to the locked state thereof, and vice versa, is caused by a swiveling Axz204 _P (see figure 2d) of a cylinder pawl 204p of the lock cylinder 204 around the cylinder swivel axis 204x, which is driven by the turning of a key (not shown), inserted in the keyhole 205, around this axis 204x by a user. The cylinder pawl 204p projects from the cylinder 204 in a radially outwards direction with respect to the cylinder swivel axis 204x, see figures 5a-f. In the rear view of figures 5a-f, a clockwise swiveling of the cylinder pawl 204p moves the locking device 200 to the locked state thereof, and a counterclockwise swiveling to its unlocked state.

The locking device 200 is shown in the locked state in figures 2e and 5f. The purpose of the locked state is to block the slats of the latching mechanism 100 from returning to the unlatched state thereof, e.g. when an attempt is made to forcefully push back the slats. This blocking is achieved by blocking a swiveling of each of the swivel elements 106, 107 back towards the unlatched state.

It is shown that the locking device 200 engages in a locked state of the locking device 200 a radially protruding stop cam 107c of the secondary transmission element 107 by a primary locking element 201 , and a radially protruding stop cam 106c of the primary swivel element 106 by a secondary locking element 202.

In figures 2a-d, figures 3a-c, and figure 5a, the locking device 200 is shown in the unlocked state. In the unlocked state, the transmission elements 106, 107, including their stop cams 106c, 107c are free from the locking elements 201 , 202 along the entire movement trajectories Axz e, Axz ? thereof between the latched and the unlatched state. This can be verified from figures 3a-c. To achieve this, relative to the locked state, the primary and secondary locking elements 201 , 202 are displaced out of the movement range of the swivel elements 106, 107. Thereto, in the movement of the locking device 200 to the unlocked state thereof, the primary and secondary locking elements 201 , 202 are swiveled around respective stationary swivel axes 201x, 202x thereof, in a direction away from the movement range of the swivel elements 106, 107 - that is, including the radially protruding stop cams 106c, 107c thereof.

The swiveling of the locking elements 201, 202 is visible in the progression from figure 5c to figure 5d in the movement from the unlocked to the locked state of the mechanism 200. In figure 5c the locking elements 201 , 202 are still out of the movement range of the swivel elements 106, 107, and the locking device 200 is free from the latching mechanism 100. In figure 5d, the locking elements 201, 202 of the locking device 200 have, relative to figure 5c, been swiveled around the swivel axes 201x, 202x to engage the swivel elements 106, 107 for blocking swiveling movements thereof around their swivel axes 106x, 107x towards the unlatched state of the latching mechanism 200. The swiveling movement of the primary locking element 201 around its swivel axis 201x is directly caused by the rotation of the cylinder pawl 204p of the lock cylinder 204 around the cylinder swivel axis 204x. The movement of the secondary locking element 202 to the locked state is, however, caused by the rotation of the primary locking element 201 , through an interconnection with the primary locking element 201 by means of an elongate locking element connector 203 - and thus indirectly caused by the rotation of the cylinder pawl 204. This locking element connector 203 is at a first end pivotally connected to the primary locking element 201 via a pivot axis 201 p extending in the y-direction, thus parallel to the swivel axes 106x, 107x and the pivot axes 103p, 104p of the latching mechanism 100. At a second end, the locking element connector 203 is connected to the secondary locking element 202 via a pivot axis 202p, also in the y-direction. The pivot axes 201 p and 202p are each provided at a radial spacing from the respective swivel axes 201x, 202x, so that the swiveling motion of the primary locking element 201 around its swivel axis 201x is transmitted via the locking element connector 203 to the secondary swivel element 202.

The locking device 200 comprises a rear retainer plate 206 (figs.5a-f) and a front retainer plate 207 (fig.2a) which sandwich the primary locking element 201 in the y-direction. The retainer plates 206, 207 are translatable relative to the primary locking element 201 in the longitudinal direction, as enabled by the guiding of the protruding swivel axis 201x, which is arranged stationarily relative to the panel 500, inside respective mutually corresponding translation guiding slits 206t, 207t in the front and rear retainer plates 206, 207 (figs.2a,5a-f). When not counteracted, the retainer plates 206, 207 are by a resilient member, in this case a spring (not shown), urging the retainer plates 206, 207 in a direction longitudinally away from the swivel elements 106, 107, kept in a rest position thereof which is longitudinally most remote from the swivel elements 106, 107. The rest position of the retainer plates 206, 207 is shown in figures 5a,e-f, and also in figures 1-4. In the rest position the retainer plates 206, 207 are pulled against stationarily mounted elements 208.

The swiveling AXZ201 of the primary locking element 201 around the swivel axis 201x is limited to a small angular range by respective mutually corresponding swivel guiding apertures 206s, 207s in the retainer plates 206, 207 inside which respective guiding pins 201g (fig.2a,5a-f) of the primary locking element 201 , protruding therefrom in the y-direction, are guided. The front and back retainer plates 206, 207 each have identical respective curved inner guiding edges 206e, 207e which encloses the cylinder 204 in the x-z plane, for engagement by the cylinder pawl 204p along its rotation from a base position thereof, in the unlocked state of the locking device 200, to an end position thereof, in the locked state of the locking device 200. In the locked state (figs.2e,5f), a swiveling of the primary latching element 106, involved in the movement of the latching mechanism 100 to the unlatched state, is blocked by the engagement of the engaging edge 106e of the radially protruding stop cam 106c, faced towards this swiveling direction, by the engaging edge 202e of the secondary locking element 202. In the view of figure 5f this is the counterclockwise direction, in figure 2e clockwise. A swiveling in this direction would press the engaging edge 106e of the primary swivel element 106 against the engaging edge 202e of the secondary locking element 202, and thereby the secondary locking element 202 against its swivel axis 202x which is to be arranged stationarily relative to the panel 500. This causes the swiveling to be blocked. Given the interdependence between the swiveling of the primary and secondary latching element 106, 107, the swiveling of the secondary latching element 107 as involved in the movement of the latching mechanism 100 to the unlatched state is also blocked. Such swiveling is however also directly blocked, by the engagement of the engaging edge 107e of the radially protruding stop cam 107c, faced towards this swiveling direction, by the engaging edge 201 e of the primary locking element 201. A swiveling in this direction would press the engaging edge 107e of the secondary swivel element 107 against the engaging edge 201 e of the primary locking element, and thereby the primary locking element 201 against its swivel axis 201 x which is to be arranged stationarily relative to the panel 500.

The lock pawl 204p moves, during substantially the whole movement of the lock pawl 204p between the locked and unlocked state, with a radially outwards surface thereof tangentially along the inner edges 206e, 207e enclosing the cylinder 204. Therein it engages these inner edges 206e, 207e in at least a middle part of the whole movement of the lock pawl 204p between the locked and unlocked state. The thickness of the lock pawl 204p is chosen such as to enable this engagement.

In a base position thereof, the lock pawl 204p is oriented at a small angle with the longitudinal direction, pointing longitudinally away from the swivel elements 106, 107. The lock pawl 204p has this base position both in the locked and unlocked state of the locking device 200, see figures 5a and 5f. According to general practice in the art, the cylinder 204 of the locking device 200 is arranged to extend through dedicated, front-back aligned apertures 506a of front and rear housing plates 506 covering the mechanism 200 - see figure 4b - wherein the apertures 506a have a shape that is complementary to the shape of the cylinder 204 without the lock pawl 204p, snugly fitting the cylinder. The small angle of the lock pawl 204p in the locked and unlocked state has the advantage, that the cylinder 204 cannot from outside the housing be pulled out of the housing in the front-back directions. In a first part of its swivel movement Axz204 _P around the cylinder axis 204x, visible in the progression from figure 5a to 5b, the lock pawl 204p moves, seen longitudinally, towards the swivel elements 106, 107 of the latching mechanism 100 which are to be blocked, until at an angle before longitudinal alignment with the cylinder swivel axis 204x. In this part of the movement, the inner edges 206e, 207e correspond to, or extend radially outwards from, the trajectory of the radially outwards surface of the lock pawl 204p. Consequently, this first part of the movement does not lead to a movement of the retainer plates 206, 207, as the radially outwards surface of the lock pawl 204p moves along the inner edges 206e, 207e unhindered and does not by its movement force the inner edges 206e, 207e, and therewith the retainer plates 206, 207 to follow its movement. In this first part of the movement, the lock pawl 204p moves predominantly longitudinally.

In a second part of its swivel movement Axz204 _P around the cylinder axis 204x, see the progression from figure 5b to 5c, the lock pawl 204p moves predominantly laterally, however the longitudinal component is still directed towards the swivel elements 106, 107 of the latching mechanism 100 until it longitudinally aligns with the cylinder axis 204x. Figure 5c shows the pawl 204p close to this longitudinal alignment.

As is shown, in this second movement part, the swivel movement of the lock pawl 204p causes a translatory movement of the retainer elements 206, 207 in the longitudinal direction towards the swivel elements 106, 107 of the latching mechanism 100. This is caused by the decreased curvature of the inner guiding edges 206e, 207e in this part of the movement, which makes the guiding inner edges 206e, 207e, in the rest position, extend increasingly radially inwards from the trajectory of the radially outwards surface of the lock pawl 204p. Consequently the guiding inner edges 206e, 207e are increasingly displaced radially outwardly by the lock pawl 204p as the movement of the lock pawl 204p towards longitudinal alignment with the axis 204x progresses - and therewith, the longitudinal translatory movement of the retainer elements 206, 207 out of the rest position and towards the swivel elements 106, 107. Therein, the lock pawl 204p pushes against the inner edges 206e, 207e so as to counteract the mentioned resilient member urging the retainer plates 206, 207 towards the rest position. Note that the retainer elements 206, 207 are guided to move longitudinally only, here by a longitudinal wall of a housing of the mechanisms 100, 200 mounted to the panel 500, and mounted elements 208.

The translatory movement of the retainer elements 206, 207 in this second movement part causes the translation guiding slit 206t to be guided in the longitudinal direction along the swivel axis 201x towards the swivel elements 106, 107, so that the swivel axis 201x ends up in the end of the slit 206t that its longitudinally most remote from the swivel elements 106, 107.

Furthermore, in this second movement part, the translatory movement of the retainer elements 206, 207 in the longitudinal direction towards the swivel elements 106, 107 also causes the swivel guiding slit 206s to be guided in the longitudinal direction along the guiding pins 201 p towards the swivel elements 106, 107, so that the guiding pins 201 p end up in the end of the slit 206s that its longitudinally most remote from the swivel elements 106, 107.

Lastly, in this second movement part, the translatory movement of the retainer elements 206, 207 in the longitudinal direction towards the swivel elements 106, 107 also causes a recess 201c of the primary swivel element 201 to be exposed, i.e. no longer covered, viewed in the y-direction, by the retainer elements 206, 207, as is visible in figure 5c. Simultaneously with pushing the retainer elements 206, 207 into their longitudinal translation, the lock pawl 204p is during the second part of the swivel movement inserted in the recess 201c, and moves tangentially against an internal edge thereof that extends radially, so as to engage this edge in the position of figure 5c.

In a third part of its swivel movement Axz204 _P around the cylinder axis 204x, see the progression from figure 5c to 5d, the lock pawl 204p moves, still predominantly laterally, from its position aligned with the swivel axis 204x to a position at an angle beyond longitudinal alignment with the swivel axis 204x. The longitudinal component of the third movement part is directed away from the swivel elements 106, 107 of the latching mechanism 100. During this part of the movement, the lock pawl 204p moves the thereby engaged internal edge of the recess 201c tangentially, with respect to the cylinder axis 204x. Thereby, the movement of the lock pawl 204p swivels the primary locking element 201 around the swivel axis 201 x with the engaging edge 201 e thereof predominantly longitudinally towards the secondary swivel element 107, i.e. predominantly upwards in the depicted embodiment, against the engaging edge 107e of the cam 107c of the secondary swivel element 107, and with the pivot axis 201 p thereof predominantly longitudinally away from the swivel elements 106, 107, i.e. downwards in the depicted embodiment. The movement of the pivot axis 201 p results in the, via the locking element connector 203 connected, pivot axis 202p of the secondary locking element to swivel around the swivel axis 202x with the engaging edge 202e thereof predominantly longitudinally towards the primary swivel element 106, i.e. predominantly downwards in the depicted embodiment, against the engaging edge 106e of the cam 106c of the primary swivel element 106. As the lock pawl 204p moves predominantly laterally in this third movement part, not causing a translation of the retainer elements 206, 207, at the end of this third movement part the retainer elements 206, 207 are still longitudinally displaced relative to the rest position, such that the swivel axis 201x is positioned in the ends of the translation guiding slits 206t, 207t that is remote from the swivel elements 106, 107. Furthermore the protruding guiding pins 201g of the primary locking element 201 are still positioned in the ends of the swivel guiding slits 206s, 207s that are remote from the swivel elements 106, 107.

In a fourth part of its swivel movement Axz204 _P around the cylinder axis 204x, see the progression from figure 5d to 5e, the lock pawl 204p moves, predominantly longitudinally, from its position at an angle beyond longitudinal alignment with the swivel axis 204x and along the decreased curvature, to a larger angle beyond longitudinal alignment where the curvature of the inner guiding edges 206e, 207e corresponds again to the trajectory of the radially outer surface of the lock pawl 204p. The longitudinal component of the fourth movement part is directed away from the swivel elements 106, 107 of the latching mechanism 100, and the retainer elements 206, 207 translate back to the rest position as the trajectory of the radially outer surface of the lock pawl 204p in this angular range decreasingly deviates from the inner guiding edges 206e, 207e, when considered in the rest position - so that the movement of the lock pawl 204p does at the end of this fourth movement part no longer cause a translation of the retainer elements 206, 207. The back translation of the retainer elements 206, 207, including their guiding slits 206t, 206s, 207t, 207s, in the fourth movement part results in the swivel axis 201x of the primary locking element 201 to be positioned in the end of the translation guiding slits 206t, 207t that are remote from the swivel elements 106, 107, and the guiding pins 201g of the primary locking element 201g to be positioned in the ends of the swivel guiding slits 206s, 207s that are proximate the swivel elements 106, 107.

In a fifth part of its swivel movement Axz204 _P around the cylinder axis 204x, see the progression from figure 5e to 5f, the lock pawl 204p moves back to its base position - compare its position of figure 5a in the unlocked state of the mechanism 200 - without moving the retainer elements 206, 207. Note that the locked state of the mechanism is achieved already after the return of the retainer elements 206, 207 from the second translation, back towards the cylinder - thus already in figure 5e where the retainer elements 206, 207 have stopped moving and are longitudinally pulled against the mounted elements 208. Whereas in figure 5f the lock pawl 204p is in its base position in this embodiment, a suitable base position would also be at a similar angle from longitudinal alignment with the swivel axis 204x of the cylinder at the opposite lateral side thereof - thus, in the view of figure 5f, a few degrees counterclockwise from longitudinal alignment instead of clockwise. The same result would be achieved in the sense that the lock pawl blocks an unauthorized pulling of the cylinder out of the housing in the y-direction, as the lock pawl will latch behind the housing front plate in this direction upon such movement, given that the cylinder enclosing aperture 506a snugly complements the cylinder excluding the protruding lock pawl.

Compared to the prior art, in particular as disclosed in EP2426297A1 in figures 21-24 thereof, the shown locking device 200 provides that both swivel elements 106, 107 of the latching mechanism 100 are blocked in their movement towards the unlatched state of the latching mechanism 100.

Compared to the prior art, in particular as disclosed in EP2426297A1 in figures 21 - 24 thereof, the shown locking device 200 furthermore provides that the engaging edge of the swivel element to be blocked, is engaged by a locking element that is distinct from a retainer element. The locking device of EP2426297A1 comprises a retainer element with inner guiding edges for the lock pawl, wherein the retainer element itself comprises the engaging edge for engaging the cam of the swivel element, and the shape of the retainer element is adapted to enable a pivoting movement thereof between the locked and unlocked state.

Referring in particular to figures 5c-e, the locking device 200 provides that the swiveling direction of the primary locking element 201 is opposite to the swiveling direction of the second swiveling element 107 when the latching mechanism 100 moves to the unlatched state. The locking device 200 furthermore provides that the swiveling direction of the secondary locking element 202 is opposite to the swiveling direction of the first swiveling element 106 when the latching mechanism 100 moves to the unlatched state. The latter is achieved arranging the pivot axis 202p of the secondary locking element 202 relative to the swivel axis 202x at the opposite lateral side compared to the pivot axis 201 p relative to the swivel axis 201 p, so that the swiveling movement of the pivot axis 201 p is oppositely directed to that of the connected pivot axis 202p around the swivel axis 202x. Thereto the locking element connector 203 extends longitudinally from the pivot axis 201 p of the primary locking element 201 towards and laterally alongside the swivel elements 106, 107, and bends off laterally inwardly around the swivel axis 106x of the primary swivel element, so as to end with the pivot axis 202p of the secondary locking element 202 laterally inwardly from the swivel axis 202x of the secondary locking element 202. The locking swiveling directions of the locking elements 201 , 202 being oppositely directed to the unlatching swivel directions of the respective swivel elements 106, 107 they block, has the result that an unlatching movement of the swivel elements 106, 107 in the blocked state, would be involved with a further swiveling movement of the locking elements 201 , 202 in their locking swiveling directions. Swiveling in these directions is however naturally blocked, as shown earlier, through the interconnection between the pivot axes 201 p, 202p and the guiding pin 206p engaging the end of the swiveling guiding slit 206s in the blocked state, see figure 5e. In contrast, in the prior art according to EP2426297, the swiveling direction of the locking element in the locking movement corresponds to the swiveling direction of the swiveling element in the unlatching movement, so that the unlatching is involved with a swiveling back of the locking element, towards the unlocked state. Thus, after reaching engagement with the swivel element, in the prior art the locking element itself has to be blocked from returning to the unlocked state in order to block the swivel element. The shown inventive locking device 200 advantageously renders such separate blocking unnecessary - which provides another advantage over the mentioned prior art.

Apart from the shown embodiment, other embodiments are envisaged within the scope of the invention. Accordingly the shown embodiment is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting to the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 latching mechanism

101 upper slat

101e upper end of 101

102 lower slat

103 upper slat connector

103p pivot axis of 103

104 lower slat connector

104p pivot axis of 104

105 mounting element

106 primary swivel element

106c radial cam of 106

106x swivel axis of 106

107 secondary swivel element

107c radial cam of 107

107x swivel axis of 107

108 steam receiving hole

109s guiding slit for 101e,102e

109p guiding pin for 101e,102e

110 protective outer plate for 101 , 102

200 locking mechanism

201 primary locking element

201c recess of 201

201 p pivot axis of 201

201x swivel axis of 201

202 secondary locking element 202p pivot axis of 202

202x swivel axis of 202

203 locking element connector

204 lock cylinder

204p lock pawl of 204

204x swivel axis of 204

205 cylinder keyhole

206 rear retainer plate

206e inner edge of 206

206s swivel guiding slit of 206

206t translation guiding slit of 206

207 front retainer plate

207e inner edge of 207

207s swivel guiding slit of 207

207t translation guiding slit of 207

208 mounted elements of 200

300 lateral external element

301 indentation in 300

400 longitudinal external element

401 slit in 400

500 movable panel

501 first side edge of 500

505 user-operable rotary member of 500

505s rotary shaft of 505

505x swivel axis of 505s

506 front plate of mechanism housing

506a cylinder enclosing aperture in 506 x lateral direction of 100

Axioi lateral displacement of 101

AX 2 lateral displacement of 102 y front-back direction of 100 z longitudinal direction of 100

Az i longitudinal displacement of 101

AZ 2 longitudinal displacement of 102 h i,io2 z-overlap of 101 and 102

Axz ii xz-displacement of 101 i

Axz 2i xz-displacement of 102i

Axzioiexz-displacement of 101 e

Axzio2exz-displacement of 102e

Axzparf xz-displacement of indicated part (general)