An espagnolette assembly

Abstract

The espagnolette assembly 10 comprising a face plate 12 and a drive plate 14 driveable relative to the face plate in use between a locking position and a non-locking position, the assembly further com

Description

The present invention relates to espagnolette assemblies for windows or doors. The invention also relates to methods of fabricating an espagnolette assembly and methods of installing an espagnolette assembly to a window or door leaf. Background to the Invention An espagnolette assembly, also known as an espagnolette locking device, transmits rotation of a handle into translational movement of a drive plate extending on both sides of a central drive mechanism. Such espagnolette assemblies are typically used with PVCu window and door assemblies for locking the window / door leaf closed. A common configuration of espagnolette assembly is illustrated in Figure 1 and comprises at least one bobbin (mushroom-headed locking pins) 1 mounted on a drive plate 2 (also known for example as a slider, locking bar, drive rail or drive rod carried behind a face plate 3. The bobbins 1 extend through and are captive in slots in the face plate 3. The drive plate 2 is driven by a handle mechanism, connected in use to the central drive mechanism 4, which may be cam-, or rack-, or lever-driven to convert rotational handle movement to linear movement of the drive plate 2. The drive plate 2 is moveable between a non-locking position and a locking position. When installed to a window or door leaf (not shown), the locking bobbins 1 project from the edge of the leaf on which the handle is located. When the leaf is closed and the handle is turned to lock the leaf, the locking bobbins 1 will move in the same direction as each other and into locking engagement with respective striker plates that are fitted on the adjacent stile of the window frame. Rotation of the handle in the opposite direction withdraws the bobbins 1 from their striker plates, allowing the leaf to be opened. PVCu window and doors typically have a recess which extends around the edge of the leaf in which at least part of the espagnolette assembly is receivable. The dimensions of such a recess, for example its depth and width, are common within the industry, and such recesses are known in the art as "Eurogrooves". A eurogroove includes a lip on each side of the recess, to provide a recess which is generally T-or l-shaped in cross section. The face plate 3 is typically received on top of the lip of the Eurogroove channel, with the remainder of the espagnolette assembly including the drive plate 2 received underneath the lip. The espagnolette assembly has a plurality of screw holes 5, 5a in the face plate 3. Although not visible in Figure 1, the drive plate 2 has elongate slots which align with the screw holes 5, 5a in the face plate 3, so that a screw can pass through each screw hole 5, 5a and through each corresponding slot in the drive plate 2 and into the leaf, in order to secure the espagnolette assembly to the edge of the leaf. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an espagnolette assembly for an openable window or door leaf, the espagnolette assembly comprising a face plate and a drive plate driveable relative to the face plate in use between a locking position and a non-locking position, the assembly further comprising at least one screw support member, the or each screw support member having a body portion configured for receiving the shank of a corresponding screw therein, the or each screw support member being configured such that it is securable non-rotatably relative to the face plate in use. By means of providing screw support members securable non-rotatably relative to the face plate, a screw can be pre-mounted in each screw support member prior to installation of the espagnolette assembly to a window or door leaf. Espagnolette assemblies of the prior art typically take a long time to install. The majority of the installation time is spent selecting screws and carefully positioning them onto the espagnolette assembly and then fixing the screws onto the leaf to secure the espagnolette assembly thereto. This can be very time consuming, considering that a large window can often have four openable leaves, which each require an espagnolette assembly to be mounted thereto. When driving the screws into the leaf, instead of being driven straight, the screws often become secured at an angle (i.e. with their shafts not substantially perpendicular to the plane of the face plate). This can cause problems for operation of the espagnolette mechanism. The present invention, which allows pre-mounting of a screw in each screw support member, improves installation time and helps to keep fixing screws straight. By means of securing the or each screw support member relative to the face plate, the or each screw support member is prevented from rotating relative to the face plate while a corresponding screw is being driven into said screw support member. The or each screw support member is securable non-rotatably relative to the face plate such that the or each screw support member is prevented from rotating relative to the face plate in a plane parallel with that of the face plate. The or each screw support member is preferably fixed non-movably to the face plate in use. The assembly may have means for securing the or each screw support member to the face plate in use. The or each screw support member is preferably configured such that the drive plate can move relative to said screw support member between its locking and non-locking positions. The drive plate is therefore moveably driveable with respect to the or each screw support member in use. The or each screw support member preferably comprises a flange portion extending from the body portion. The flange portion preferably extends outwards from the body portion I the plane of the face plate when assembled thereto. The flange portion is preferably in the form of a planar plate member. The or each screw support member is adapted to serve as a gripping fastener that secures a corresponding screw thereto in a pre-mounted state without falling out. The or each screw support member suitably comprises a gripping fastener adapted to secure a corresponding screw thereto. The screw gripping function of the or each screw support member may arise for example by means of the choice of material for the screw support member that the screw may tap into, for example by means of the or each screw support member having a polymeric body portion for receiving a corresponding screw. Prior to installation of the assembly at a leaf, a corresponding screw may be partially driven into the or each screw support member. The or each corresponding screw is therefore premounted in the assembly, ready to be driven into the leaf to secure the assembly to the leaf. Preferably the assembly further comprises a corresponding screw pre-mounted in said screw support member. The assembly preferably further comprises corresponding screws for pre-mounting in each screw support member, in embodiments which have two or more screw support members. Preferably the face plate has an outer side for facing away from the leaf edge when assembled thereto and an inner side opposing the inner side, the or each screw support member comprising a flange portion configured to engage the outer side or the inner side of the face plate when assembled thereto. The outer side of the flange portion can engage the inner side of the face plate, or the inner side of the flange portion can engage the outer side of the face plate. Preferably the flange portion of the or each screw support member is configured to be received between the drive plate and the face plate when assembled thereto. The flange portion is preferably sized to be received between the drive plate and the face plate. The thickness of the flange portion is such that it fits between the drive plate and the face plate of the espagnolette assembly. Preferably the flange portion of the or each screw support member comprises a substantially planar, rectangular shape, the flange portion having first and second opposing side edges extending substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the face plate when assembled thereto, the flange portion having first and second side walls extending from its first and second side edges respectively, the side walls extending away from the outer face of the flange portion. The rectangular flange portion may be a square shaped flange portion. The side walls preferably extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body portion of said screw support member (i.e. parallel with the longitudinal axis of the screw shank, when received in the screw support member). Preferably the first and second side walls of said screw support member each have an interior side facing towards the body portion, the screw support member further comprising first and second projections on the interior side of the first and second walls respectively, the first and second projections being configured for holding the drive plate captive under the flange portion of the screw support member via a snap fit. The side walls of the or each screw support member are preferably resilient in order to allow snap fit of the drive plate between the inner side of the flange portion and the projections. The side walls also prevent the screw support member from twisting as a screw is being further tightened into the screw support member and into the leaf in order to secure the espagnolette assembly to the leaf by means of the side walls extending substantially parallel with the side walls the eurogroove channel such that if the screw support member were to start to rotate slightly, rotation would be prevented by the sides of the eurogroove channel when received therein. The drive plate fits in the space formed between the flange portion and the projections loosely, so that the drive plate is able to slide back and forth relative to the or each screw support member, between its locking and non-locking positions. Preferably the flange portion of the or each screw support member comprises at least one anti-twist lug projecting therefrom, the or each anti-twist lug being for receipt in a corresponding recess in the face plate. The or each anti-twist lug serves to keep the screw support member from rotating relative to the face plate, in particular when a screw is being screwed into the screw support member for pre-mounting thereto, but also when the screw is being screwed into the leaf during installation of the espagnolette assembly. The or each screw support member preferably has a plurality of anti-twist lugs, even more preferably six arranged in a circular arrangement around the body portion. Preferably the or each anti-twist lug projects from the outer side of the flange portion. The face plate suitably has corresponding recess(es) for receiving the anti-twist lugs, in order to lock the screw support member against rotation relative to the face plate when a screw is being driven into said screw support member in order to pre-mount the screw thereto. The recess(es) are sized and shaped such that the anti-twist lugs fit closely therein. In some embodiments the flange portion of the or each screw support member rests on the outer side of the face plate when assembled thereto. Preferably the body portion of the or each screw support member is received through a corresponding aperture in the face plate when assembled thereto. Preferably the body portion of the or each screw support member has a polygonal shaped cross-section, the face plate having a corresponding polygonal shaped aperture for receiving the body portion therethrough such that said screw support member is prevented from twisting relative to the face plate when receive therein. The size and shape of crosssection of the screw support member preferably matches that of the corresponding recess in the face plate. The body portion of the or each screw support member preferably has a square shaped cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body portion of the screw support member (i.e. transverse to the longitudinal axis of the screw shank, when received in the screw support member). The polygonal shaped cross-section of the body portion may also prevent the screw support member from twisting as a screw is being further tightened into the screw support member and into the leaf in order to secure the espagnolette assembly to the leaf. This is by means of the body portion having side walls that would be prevented by the side of the eurogroove channel from rotating if the screw support member were to start to rotate slightly. In a preferred embodiment in which the body portion of the or each screw support member preferably has a square shaped cross-section, the body portion has first and second side walls which extend substantially parallel with the side walls the eurogroove channel. Preferably the body portion of the or each screw support member is shaped and sized such that it is received through said corresponding aperture in the face plate via a friction fit. The or each screw support member is therefore held firmly in the corresponding recess in the face plate by a friction fit, such that the screw support member is prevented from dismounting from the face plate before the espagnolette assembly is installed onto a leaf. The friction fit also prevent the screw support member from twisting as a screw is being further tightened into the screw support member and into the leaf in order to secure the espagnolette assembly to the leaf. Preferably the body portion of the or each screw support member is received through a corresponding slot in the drive plate when assembled thereto. The body portion of the or each screw support member is preferably shaped and sized such that it can be received through a corresponding slot in the drive plate when assembled thereto. Said corresponding slot is preferably elongate such that the drive plate can move between its locking and non-locking positions, relative to the screw support member. The body portion of the or each screw support member is preferably elongate, having a longitudinal axis substantially orthogonal to the face plate when mounted thereto. The body portion of the or each screw support member is preferably received through a corresponding aperture in the face plate when assembled thereto. The body portion of the or each screw support member is preferably shaped and sized such that it can be received through said corresponding aperture in the face plate when assembled thereto. Preferably the or each screw support member is secured to the face plate using adhesive. Preferably the body portion of the or each screw support member has a bore for receiving the shank of a corresponding screw therein. The bore may have a smaller diameter than that of the corresponding screw, such that the screw may tap into the inner walls of the bore when being driven therein. In such embodiments, the bore may serve as a pilot bore. However, the body portion need not have a pre-formed bore, if self-tapping screws are used which are configured to tap their own bore for example. In some embodiments the bore of the body portion of the or each screw support member is an internally threaded bore. In such embodiments, the internal thread of said bore corresponds to that of the screw to be received therein. Preferably the or each screw support member is made of plastic. The or each screw support member may be formed as an integral, unitary construction, made out of plastic. Preferably the assembly comprises two or more screw support members, each having features according to any of the preceding claims. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of fabricating an espagnolette assembly, the method comprising providing an espagnolette assembly according to any aspect of the invention described above and mounting a screw to each screw support member. Mounting a screw to each support member is preferably done by screwing the shank of each screw into the bore of the corresponding screw support member. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing an espagnolette assembly to a leaf, the method comprising providing an espagnolette assembly according to any of claims 1 to 18, the espagnolette assembly having a screw pre-mounted to each screw support member, the method further comprising locating the espagnolette assembly on a leaf and driving each pre-mounted screw into the leaf. In the context of the present invention, the term “mounting” means connecting or joining, either directly or by means of an intermediate or auxiliary element. It is to be understood that the mere use of the term “first” does not require that there be any “second,” and the mere use of the term “second” does not require that there be any “third,” etc. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a prior art espagnolette assembly; Figure 2A shows an exploded view of an espagnolette assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2B shows a portion of a drive plate for the assembly of Figure 2A; Figure 3 shows the espagnolette assembly of Figure 2A with a screw pre-mounted in each of the screw support members, bar one; Figure 4 shows a side view of a screw support member of the Figure 2A assembly; Figure 5 shows a top view of the screw support member of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a front view of the screw support member of Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a top view of an end portion of the assembly of Figure 3; Figure 8 shows a side view of an end portion of the assembly of Figure 3; Figure 9 shows an exploded view of an espagnolette assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 shows a portion of the assembly of Figure 9 with the face plate and drive plate assembled together; Figure 11 shows a portion of the assembly Figure 9, with the face plate and drive plate exploded from one another; Figure 12 shows a top view of a screw support member of the Figure 9 assembly; Figure 13 shows a front view of the screw support member of Figure 12; Figure 14 shows a profile section of a leaf that an espagnolette assembly mounts to. Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present embodiments represent currently the best ways known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But they are not the only ways in which this can be achieved. They are illustrated, and they will now be described, by way of example only. Common features between the assemblies of the different figures are referenced by common reference numerals. Referring to Figures 2A to 8, a first embodiment of the invention will be described. Referring to Figure 2A, an exploded view of an espagnolette assembly 10 is shown. The espagnolette assembly 10 comprises a face plate 12 and a drive plate 14 configured to be driven relative to the face plate in use between a locking position and a non-locking position by central drive mechanism 16. The face plate 12 and drive plate 14 each comprise planar, elongate metal plates. The assembly 10 further comprises at least one screw support member 20 configured to be secured non-rotatably relative to the face plate 12 in use. In this embodiment, the assembly has five screw support assemblies 20, but it will be understood that it could have any number for stably securing the espagnolette assembly 10 to a leaf. A screw support member 20 will now be described with reference to the figures, the other screw support members being alike. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the screw support member 20 has a body portion 22 having a bore 24 therethrough configured to receive the shank of a screw 18 therein. The parts of the assembly each have an outer side / outer end for facing away from the leaf edge when assembled thereto and an inner side / inner end opposing the inner side. The screw support member 20 has a flange portion 30 projecting away from the outer end of the body portion 22, or projecting away from a point near the outer end of the body portion 22. Referring to Figure 5, the bore 24 has an opening in the outer end of the body portion 22. The body portion 22 preferably comprises a cylindrical body or other prism shaped body, having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flange portion 30. The bore 24 has an opening in the inner side of the body portion (not visible in the figures) for the tip of the screw 18 (i.e. the tip of the screw furthest from the head of the screw) to project from so that the screw 18 can be driven into the leaf in order to secure the assembly 10 to the leaf. The body portion 22 stabilises the screw 18 and helps to keep the screw 18 straight during fixing of the assembly 10 to the leaf. The flange portion 30 of the screw support member 20 is configured to be received between the drive plate 14 and the face plate 12 when assembled thereto. Referring to Figure 8, the gap G between the face plate 12 and drive plate 14 is typically around 2 mm deep. The thickness of the flange portion 30 is such that the flange portion 30 can fit in the gap G between the face plate 12 and drive plate 14. The outer side of the flange portion 30 of the screw support member 20 has at least one anti-twist lug 32 projecting therefrom. In this embodiment, each anti-twist lug 32 is in the form of a projecting pin. In this embodiment, the flange portion 30 has six anti-twist lugs 32 projecting from its outer side, however it will be understood that it may have one, preferably two, even more preferably a plurality of anti-twist lugs. Referring to Figure 5, the anti-screw lugs 32 are arranged around the mouth of the bore 24 in the outer side of the screw support member 20. Referring to Figure 7, the face plate 12 has a screw hole 25, around which are arranged a plurality of recesses 34, each for receiving an anti-screw lug 32 therein. When assembling the screw support member 20 to the assembly, the flange portion 30 is located between the drive plate 14 and the face plate 12, with the antiscrew lugs 32 located in the recesses 34 in the face plate 12 and bore 24 aligned with screw hole 25. The engagement of the anti-screw lugs 32 in the recesses 34 in the face plate 12 prevents the screw support member 20 from spinning when fixing a screw 18 thereto so that the screw can be pre-mounted to the assembly, and when the screw 18 is being driven into the leaf during installation of the assembly 10. The anti-screw lugs 32 and the recesses 34 may be correspondingly sized and shaped such that the anti-screw lugs 32 fit in the recesses 34 via a friction-fit. In embodiments in which the anti-screw lugs 32 engage in the corresponding recesses 34 via a friction-fit, this engagement can be used to retain each screw support member 20 in engagement with the face plate such that each screw support member is prevented from dismounting from the face plate before the espagnolette assembly is installed onto a leaf. In addition or alternatively to the inclusion of anti-screw lugs 32 on the screw support member 20 to prevent the screw support member 20 from twisting relative to the face plate 12, the screw support member 20 may be fixed to the face plate 12 using adhesive. For example, the outer side of the flange portion 30 may be fixed to the inner side of the face plate 12 using a suitable adhesive. The flange portion 30 of the screw support member 20 comprises a substantially planar plate-like portion which projects from the mouth of the bore 24 at the outer side of the body portion 22. In this embodiment the flange portion 30 is rectangular in shape, and more particularly in this embodiment, it is a regular rectangle (i.e. square in shape). The side edges of the flange portion 30 match the width or are smaller than the width of the face plate 12. Referring to Figure 6, the flange portion 30 has first and second opposing side edges that extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis A of the face plate 12 when assembled thereto. The screw support member 20 has first and second side walls 36 that extend from the first and second side edges of the flange portion 30 respectively, the side walls 36 extending away from the flange portion 30 substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bore 24 of the screw support member 20. In this embodiment the side walls 36 extend around 8 mm from the inner side of the flange portion 30, such that the side walls 36 can be received in the eurogroove channel on the edge of the leaf. The length of the walls 36 may of course vary for leaves with different sized eurogroove channels. Referring to Figure 6, the side walls 36 each have an interior side facing towards the body portion 22 , the screw support member 20 further comprising first and second projections 38 on the interior side of the first and second walls respectively. The drive plate 14 can be received in the space between the projections 38 and the inner side of the flange portion 30. Referring to Figure 1, the drive plate 2 of a typical prior art espagnolette assembly typically terminates short of the face plate 3 at both of its ends. In a typical prior art assembly the face plate 3 typically has a terminal screw hole 5a at each of its ends, the screws received in these terminal screw holes passing through the face plate 3 then straight into the leaf as the drive plate 2 does not overlap with terminal screw holes 5a. Referring to Figure 3, in the present embodiment however the drive plate 14 extends longer than the face plate 12 at each end so that a screw support member 20 can be received between the face plate 12 and drive plate 14 at each terminal end of the espagnolette assembly 10. In this way a screw 18 can be fixed at each terminal end of the espagnolette assembly 10, to help secure the espagnolette assembly 10 at its terminal ends. This provides improved stability when installed, as both the face plate 12 and drive plate 14 are secured to the leaf near their terminal ends. Referring to Figure 2B, part of a drive plate for the present embodiment is shown. Slots 19 in the drive plate 14, each for receiving a body portion 22 therethrough (the body portion may be holding a screw 18 therein in use), can be seen, the elongate slots 19 allowing the drive plate 14 to be driven linearly back and forth relative to the face plate 12. During fabrication of the espagnolette assembly 10, the screw support members 20 are mounted to the face plate 12 at spaced apart locations, such that the bore hole 24 of each screw support member 20 aligns with a screw hole 25 in the face plate 12. In the present embodiment, the assembly has screw support members 20 located at each terminal end of the face plate 12 and located either side of the central drive mechanism 16, and one further screw support member 20, but it may have more or fewer. During fabrication a screw 18 is secured in the bore hole 24 of each screw support member 20, so as to premount the screws 18 to the assembly 10. Figure 3 shows the assembly 10 with four screws 18 pre-mounted thereon. Once all of the screws have been pre-mounted, the assembly is ready to be installed to the edge of a leaf, and the screws 18 can then simply each be driven into the leaf, the body portions 20 helping to keep the screws 18 straight while being driven into the leaf. The bore hole 24 of each screw support member 20 is preferably slightly smaller than the diameter of the shank of the screw 18 to be received therein, so that the screw 18 forms a strong engagement in the screw support member 20. The screw support member 20 is preferably made of a soft plastic material, so that the outer threads of the screw thread of the screw shank can cut into the plastic of the screw support member 20. Once installed, if a screw 18 later needs to be replaced because it has fallen out or become worn, a repair screw having a slightly larger diameter shank than the original screw can be used. A second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 14. Referring to Figure 9, an espagnolette assembly 110 is shown. Like the first embodiment, the assembly 110 has a face plate 112 and a drive plate 114 configured to be driven relative to the face plate in use between a locking position and a non-locking position by central drive mechanism 116. The assembly 110 further comprises at least one screw support member 120 configured to be secured non-rotatably relative to the face plate 112 in use. A screw support member 120 will now be described with reference to the figures, the other screw support members being alike. Like the first embodiment, the screw support member 120 has a body portion 122 having a bore 124 therethrough configured to receive the shank of a screw 18 therein. Like the first embodiment, the screw support member 120 also has a flange portion 130 projecting away from the outer end of the body portion 122. The screw support member 120 is configured such that the flange portion 130 rests on the outer side of the face plate 112 when assembled thereto. The body portion 122 preferably comprises a prism shaped body of polygonal shaped cross-section in the plane substantially parallel with the plane of the flange portion. The face plate 112 has corresponding polygonal shaped apertures 125, each for receiving a body portion 122 therethrough. In this embodiment apertures 125 are shaped and sized to closely match the cross-section of the body portion 122 so that each body portion 122 can be secured in corresponding aperture 125 via friction fit. This secures the screw support members 120 to the assembly 110 and prevents the screw support members 120 from dismounting from the assembly 110 before installation on the leaf. In this embodiment the body portion 122 has a square-shaped cross-section and the face plate 122 has correspondingly sized and shaped square apertures 125. The provision of a friction fit prevents the screw support member 120 from rotating relative to the face plate 112 when assembled thereto and when a screw 18 is being screwed relative to the screw support member 120. It also prevents each screw support member 120 from falling off the face plate 112 after assembly thereto. In addition or alternatively to the provision of a friction fit between the body portion 122 of each screw support member 120 and each corresponding aperture 125 in the face plate 112, the screw support members 120 may be fixed to the face plate 112 using adhesive. For example, the inner side of the flange portion 130 may be fixed to the outer side of the face plate 112 using a suitable adhesive. Alternatively or in addition to the fiction fit and / or adhesive, each screw support member 120 could have anti-twist lugs projecting from the inner side of the flange portion, there being corresponding recesses in the face plate for receipt therein. The flange portion 130 comprises a substantially planar plate-like portion which projects from the mouth of the bore 124 at the outer side of the body portion 122. In this embodiment the flange portion 130 is rectangular in shape, and more particularly in this embodiment, it is a regular rectangle (i.e. square in shape). The side edges of the flange portion 130 match the width or are smaller than the width of the face plate 112. Figure 14 shows a typical profile member 40 of a window leaf having a eurogroove channel 42. The face plate 112 of the assembly 110 rests on the lipped sides 44 of the eurogroove, with the drive plate 114 being received underneath or between the lipped sides 44. The body portion 122 of each screw support member 120 is accommodated in the main channel 46 of the eurogroove, under the lipped sides 44, or with the majority of the body portion 122 extending under the lipped sides 44. Referring to Figure 11, part of a drive plate 114 for the present embodiment is shown. Slots 119 in the drive plate 114, each for receiving a body portion 122 therethrough (the body portion may be holding a screw 18 therein in use), can be seen, the elongate slots 119 allowing the drive plate 114 to be driven linearly back and forth relative to the face plate 112. During manufacture of the espagnolette assembly 110, the screw support members 120 are mounted to the face plate 112 by seating the body portion 122 of each screw support member 120 through a corresponding aperture 125 in the face plate 112, the apertures 125 being at spaced apart locations on the face plate 112. In this embodiment, the screw support members 120 are secured to the face plate 112 via a friction fit, but other securing means may be employed as discussed above. A screw 18 is secured in the bore hole 124 of each screw support member 120, so as to pre-mount the screws 18 to the assembly 110. Once all of the screws have been pre-mounted, the assembly 110 is ready to be installed to the edge of a leaf, and the screws 18 can then simply each be driven into the leaf, the body portions 120 helping to keep the screws 18 straight. Like the previous embodiment, the bore hole 124 of each screw support member 120 is preferably slightly smaller than the diameter of the shank of the screw 18 to be received therein, so that the screw 18 forms a strong engagement in the screw support member 120. The screw support member 120 is preferably made of a soft plastic material, so that the outer threads of the screw thread of the screw shank can cut into the plastic of the screw support member 120. Once installed, if a screw 18 later needs to be replaced because it has fallen out for become worn, a repair screw having a slightly larger diameter shank than the original screw can be used.

Claims

1. An espagnolette assembly for an openable window or door leaf, the espagnolette assembly comprising a face plate and a drive plate driveable relative to the face plate in use between a locking position and a non-locking position, the assembly further comprising at least one screw support member, the or each screw support member having a body portion configured for receiving the shank of a corresponding screw therein, the or each screw support member being configured such that it is securable non-rotatably relative to the face plate in use.

2. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprises a corresponding screw pre-mounted in said screw support member.

3. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the face plate has an outer side for facing away from the leaf edge when assembled thereto and an inner side opposing the inner side, the or each screw support member comprising a flange portion configured to engage the outer side or the inner side of the face plate when assembled thereto.

4. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 3, wherein the flange portion of the or each screw support member is configured to be received between the drive plate and the face plate when assembled thereto.

5. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the flange portion of the or each screw support member comprises a substantially planar, rectangular shape, the flange portion having first and second opposing side edges extending substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the face plate when assembled thereto, the flange portion having first and second side walls extending from its first and second side edges respectively, the side walls extending away from the outer face of the flange portion.

6. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first and second side walls of said screw support member each have an interior side facing towards the body portion, the screw support member further comprising first and second projections on the interior side of the first and second walls respectively, the first and second projectionsbeing configured for holding the drive plate captive under the flange portion of the screw support member via a snap fit.

7. An espagnolette assembly according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the flange portion of the or each screw support member comprises at least one anti-twist lug projecting therefrom, the or each anti-twist lug being for receipt in a corresponding recess in the face plate8. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 7, wherein the or each anti-twist lug projects from the outer side of the flange portion.

9. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 3 or to claim 7 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the flange portion of the or each screw support member rests on the outer side of the face plate when assembled thereto.

10. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 9, wherein the body portion of the or each screw support member is received through a corresponding aperture in the face plate when assembled thereto.

11. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the body portion of the or each screw support member has a polygonal shaped cross-section, the face plate having a corresponding polygonal shaped aperture for receiving the body portion therethrough such that said screw support member is prevented from twisting relative to the face plate when receive therein.

12. An espagnolette assembly according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the body portion of the or each screw support member is shaped and sized such that it is received through said corresponding aperture in the face plate via a friction fit.

13. An espagnolette assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the body portion of the or each screw support member is received through a corresponding slot in the drive plate when assembled thereto.

14. An espagnolette assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each screw support member is secured to the face plate using adhesive.

15. An espagnolette assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the body portion of the or each screw support member has a bore for receiving the shank of a corresponding screw therein.

16. An espagnolette assembly according to claim 15, wherein the bore of the body portion of the or each screw support member is an internally threaded bore.

17. An espagnolette assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each screw support member is made of plastic.

18. An espagnolette assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the assembly comprises two or more screw support members, each having features according to any of the preceding claims.

19. A method of fabricating an espagnolette assembly, the method comprising providing an espagnolette assembly according to any preceding claim and mounting a screw to each screw support member.

20. A method of installing an espagnolette assembly to a leaf, the method comprising providing an espagnolette assembly according to any of claims 1 to 18, the espagnolette assembly having a screw pre-mounted to each screw support member, the method further comprising locating the espagnolette assembly on a leaf and driving each pre-mounted screw into the leaf.18

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