EP1411197B1

EP1411197B1 - Bolt

Info

Publication number: EP1411197B1
Application number: EP20030447254
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joseph Talpe, Jr.
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-16
Filing date: 2003-10-16
Publication date: 2007-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-16
Also published as: EP1411197A1

Description

The present invention relates to a bolt, in particular to a bolt arranged to be fixed to the frame of a first leaf, for example of a gate, with a view to fixing this leaf removably in particular to a wall, to the floor or to another leaf, in particular to a leaf situated underneath the first leaf.
Such a lock traditionally comprises a first tubular member arranged to be fixed to said frame, the first tubular member being provided with a groove extending longitudinally to said first member and at least one notch opening out into said groove, a second member arranged to slide in the first tubular member and to which second member there is transversely fixed a projecting pin designed to slide in said groove when the second member slides in the first from or to a first position of the bolt when the pin is engaged in the first notch. Each notch provides a stable position of the bolt since, in such a position, the pin being engaged in a notch, the second member cannot freely slide in the first member by sliding of the pin fixed to this second member in the groove with which the first member is provided, for example because of vibration or an impact received by the bolt. The first tubular member of the bolt is fixed to the frame of the first leaf in a position such that, in the above-indicated first position of the bolt, the second member makes it possible to fix the first leaf in a stable manner to the above-mentioned wall, floor or other leaf by means of a portion of the second member projecting into this first position of the same frame and cooperating with a corresponding element fixed to the wall, floor or other leaf in question. One such lock was, for example, disclosed in GB 903,728 , representing the closest state of the art and having the features of the preamble of claim 1.
The respective arrangements of the first notch in the first member of the bolt and of the pin relative to the second member of this bolt determine the length of the portion of said second member which projects from the first member and in particular from the frame of the first leaf when the pin is engaged in the first notch. Consequently the position of the bolt on the first leaf and/or the dimensions or position of the element fixed to the wall, floor or other leaf intended to cooperate with said portion must be adapted to the distance over which the second member projects out of the first member, otherwise the fixing provided by the bolt will not be stable. This constitutes a drawback of the traditional bolts, which limits their versatility.
The purpose of the present invention is to mitigate this drawback by providing a bolt characterised in that its second member is provided with a plurality of first fixing means spaced axially apart from each other, each being arranged so as to removably fix the above-mentioned projecting pin to the second member and in that said projecting pin comprises a peripheral protrusion whose outside diameter is greater than the width of said first notch, arranged so that, when said projecting pin is engaged in said first notch, said peripheral protrusion is locked between the second member and the inner side of said first tubular member.
In this way it is possible to modify the position of the pin relative to the second member and consequently to adapt the length of the portion of the latter projecting from the first tubular member to the corresponding element fixed to the wall, floor or other leaf, with which said portion cooperates when the pin is engaged in the first notch, while ensuring that, when this pin is engaged in the first notch, it is not possible to extract it from the fixing means in the second member.
Other embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
The invention will now be described in more detail and non-limitingly with reference to the accompanying figures, in which

Figure 1a is a perspective view of a bolt according to the invention when it is fixed to the frame of a first leaf, for example of a gate;
Figure 1b is a view in exploded perspective of the bolt illustrated in Figure 1a;
Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the pin of a bolt according to the invention; and
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the second member of the bolt at the level of a cavity for fixing the pin.

Figure 1a shows a bolt 1 according to the invention fixed to a tubular frame 2 of a first leaf of a gate (not shown). The bolt 1 comprises a first tubular member 3 fixed to said frame 2, the first tubular member 3 being provided with a groove 4 extending longitudinally to said first member 3 and first 6 and second 5 notches each opening out in said groove, a second cylindrical member 7 arranged so as to slide in the first tubular member 3 to which there is fixed transversely a pin 8 designed to slide in said groove 4 when the second cylindrical member 7 slides in the first member 3 between a first position of the bolt 1 when the pin 8 is engaged in the first notch 6 and a second position of the bolt 1 when the pin 8 is engaged in the second notch 5. The second member makes it possible, when the pin 8 is engaged in the first notch 6, to fix the first leaf in a stable manner to the above mentioned wall, floor or other leaf by means of a portion 7a of this second member then projecting from the frame 2 of the first leaf and cooperating with a corresponding element (not shown) provided in or fixed to the floor, wall or other leaf in question. The other leaf may in particular be a leaf situated underneath the leaf onto which the bolt is mounted so that both leaves can be opened and closed together when they are fixed to one another by means of the bolt or the upper first leaf can be opened separately, for example in the case of a door for a horse stable, when the bolt is released.
As illustrated by Figure 1b, the second member 7 is provided with a plurality of first fixing means consisting of cavities 9 spaced axially apart from each other, each being arranged so as to removably fix said pin 8 to the second member 7 by engagement of the pin 8 in a cavity 9. This engagement can be made by forcing the pin 8 into a cavity 9 or by screwing the pin into the cavity, these then each being provided with a thread. The first tubular member 3 is fixed to a first face 2a of the frame 2 of the first leaf by second fixing means 10 each comprising a cylindrical body 10a with a first diameter and a head 10b with a second diameter greater than that of the body, each fixing means being arranged so as to be introduced from the inside of the first tubular member into a first orifice (not shown) formed in said member and a second coaxial orifice 11 coaxial with the first corresponding orifice formed in said first face 2a of the frame 2, the first orifice having a diameter greater than said first diameter and less than said second diameter and being arranged so that the head 10b of the fixing means 10 is concealed by the second cylindrical member 7. In this way, it is not possible to unfasten the first tubular member 3 from the frame 2 of the first leaf to which it is fixed as long as the second member 7 is disposed in the first tubular member. This configuration provides a secure fixing of the bolt to the frame of the first leaf, preventing its removal by an unauthorised person.
The body 10a of each fixing means 10 consists of an internally threaded tube for cooperating by screwing with the externally threaded body 12a of a stud 12 whose head 12b is arranged so as to rest on a second face 2b of the frame 2 of the first leaf opposite to said first face 2a of this frame. To each stud 12 there corresponds an orifice (not shown) formed in the face 2b of the frame 2 coaxial with first and second corresponding orifices, to allow the introduction of the body 12a of said stud 12 into the tubular frame 2 so that the body 12a of this bolt 12 can cooperate by screwing with the body 10a of the corresponding fixing element 10. A plate 13 is provided for aligning each stud 12 with the corresponding fixing means 10. The head 12b of each stud 12 consists of a smooth plug so as not to be able to be used by an unauthorised person for unscrewing a stud 12 from the threaded body 10a of a corresponding fixing element 10. The head 12b has moreover a smaller square portion fitting in a corresponding square hole in the plate 13 so that the studs 12 are prevented from rotating. The bolt can thus only be removed from the leaf by first removing the second member 7 and by subsequently removing the first fixing means 10. Each fixing means 10 is arranged so as to be introduced into the first tubular member through a third orifice 17 with a diameter greater than said second diameter, coaxial with the corresponding first and second orifices and formed in the first tubular membrane 3.
One end of the second cylindrical member 7 is provided with an elongate element 14 fixed to the second cylindrical member 7 by means of a screw 15. The elongate element 14 has a portion 18 which is arranged to be disposed between the frame 2 of said first leaf and an adjacent leaf (not shown), to lock the bolt 1 in its first or second position when the adjacent leaf is closed (and locked) and when the pin 8 is engaged in one of the notches 5 or 6. The portion 18 of the elongate element 14 forms preferably an angle with the pin 8 and extends more preferably substantially at right angles with respect to this pin 8. Due to the presence of the elongated element 14 it is not possible, when the two leaves of a gate, one of which is provided with a bolt 1 according to the invention, are closed and the elongate element 14 is disposed between the frames of these two leaves, to move the second cylindrical member 7 of this bolt from the position in which it is situated to another position. This ensures the holding of the bolt in the first or second position in which it is situated.
Figure 2 illustrates a pin 8 of a bolt according to the invention. This pin comprises a peripheral protrusion 16 whose outside diameter is greater than the width of the notches 5 and 6 in the first tubular member 3 and that of the groove 4. As illustrated in Figure 3, each cavity 9 in the second cylindrical member 7 comprises a housing 19 arranged to receive said protrusion 16 so that it is recessed in the surface of the second member 7. In order to enable to insert the pin 8 into one of the cavities 9 in the second member 7, the orifices 17 in the groove 4 have a diameter larger than the diameter of the peripheral protrusion 16 on the pin 8. Due to the smaller diameter of the notches 5, 6 and of the groove 4, the peripheral protrusion 16 is locked mostly between the second member 7 and the inner side of the first tubular member 3. In this way, the pin 8 is held in a stable fashion in a cavity 9 and, when this pin 7 is engaged in a notch 5 or 6, it is not possible to extract it from the cavity 9 in which it is fixed. Consequently, when the pin is kept engaged in one of said notches 5 or 6 by virtue of the elongate element 14 when the latter is disposed between the respective frames of the adjacent leaves of a gate and therefore prevents rotation of the second cylindrical member 7, no manipulation makes it possible to extract the pin 8 from this second cylindrical member 7.

Claims

A bolt (1) arranged to be fixed to the frame (2) of a first leaf, said bolt (1) comprising a first tubular member (3) arranged to be fixed to said frame (2), a second member (7) arranged to slide in the first tubular member (3), and a projecting pin (8) fixed transversely to the second member (7), the first tubular member (3) being provided with a groove (4) which extends longitudinally to said first member (3) and with at least one first notch (6) opening out in said groove (4), and the projecting pin (8) fixed to the second member (7) being arranged to slide in the groove (4) when the second member (7) slides in the first tubular member (3) from or to a first position of the bolt (1) when the projecting pin (8) is engaged in the first notch (6), characterised in that said second member (7) is provided with a plurality of first fixing means (9) spaced apart axially from each other, each being arranged to removably fix said projecting pin (8) to the second member (7) and in that said projecting pin (8) comprises a peripheral protrusion (16) whose outside diameter is greater than the width of said first notch (6), arranged so that, when said projecting pin (8) is engaged in said first notch (6), said peripheral protrusion (16) is locked between the second member (7) and the inner side of said first tubular member (3).
A bolt (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said second member (7) has a cylindrical outer side.
A bolt (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said first member (3) has a cylindrical inner side.
A bolt (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first tubular member (3) is provided with a second notch (5) opening out in the groove (4) and spaced apart from the first notch (6) so as to define a second position of the bolt (1) when the projecting pin (8) is engaged in the second notch (5).
A bolt (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said fixing means comprises cavities (9) formed in said second member (7) arranged so as to engage said projecting pin (8).
A bolt (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that said cavities (9) form a housing for receiving said peripheral protrusion (16) so that said peripheral protrusion (16) is recessed in the surface of the second member (7).
A bolt (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that said groove (4) has a width smaller than the outside diameter of said peripheral protrusion (16) of the projecting pin (8) but is provided with at least one orifice (17) to enable to insert the pin (8) through this orifice into one of said cavities (9) in the second member (7).
A bolt (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said fixing means comprises cavities (9) formed in said second member (7) and said projecting pin (8) is fixed to the second member (7) by being forced into one of said cavities (9).
A bolt (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said fixing means comprises cavities (9) formed in said second member (7) and said projecting pin (8) is fixed to the second member (7) by being screwed into one of said cavities (9).
A bolt (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one end of said second member (7) is provided with an elongate element (14) having a portion which is arranged to be disposed between the frame (2) of the first leaf and an adjacent leaf, to lock the bolt (1) in its first position, said portion of the elongate element (14) forming preferably an angle with said projecting pin (8) and extending more preferably substantially at right angles with respect to said projecting pin (8).
A bolt (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first tubular member (3) is arranged to be fixed to a first face (2a) of the frame (2) of the first leaf by at least one second fixing means (10) comprising a body (10a) with a first diameter and a head (10b) with a second diameter greater than that of the body, each second fixing means (10) being arranged so as to be introduced from the inside of the first tubular member (3) into a first orifice formed in said member and a second orifice (11) coaxial with the corresponding first orifice formed in said first face (2a) of the frame (2) of the first leaf, the first orifice having a diameter greater than said first diameter and less than said second diameter and being arranged so that the head (10b) of the second fixing means (10) is concealed by said second member (7).
A bolt (1) according to claim 11, characterised in that each second fixing means (10) is arranged so as to be introduced into the first tubular member (3) through a third orifice (17) with a diameter greater than said second diameter, coaxial with the corresponding first and second orifices (11) and formed in the first tubular member (3).
A bolt (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the body (10a) of said second fixing means (10) consists of an internally threaded tube for cooperating by screwing with an externally threaded body (12a) of a stud (12) whose head (12b) is arranged to rest on a second face (2b) of the frame (2) of the first leaf opposite to said first face (2a) of said frame (2).