AU2004201359B2

AU2004201359B2 - A Security Bolt

Info

Publication number: AU2004201359B2
Application number: AU2004201359A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sean Callanan
Original assignee: Assa Abloy IP AB
Current assignee: Assa Abloy IP AB
Priority date: 2003-04-09
Filing date: 2004-04-01
Publication date: 2009-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2024-04-01
Also published as: AU2004201359A1; GB2401392A; GB0407783D0; NZ525218A

Description

1 TITLE 5 "A Security Bolt" BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 10 This invention relates to a security bolt. Security bolts are known whereby a door or window can be securely bolted in its closed position. The security 15 bolt is generally an item of hardware separate to any latching or locking hardware associated with the door or window. It is used for added security locking/latching of the door or window. 20 The security bolt to which the present invention relates is often referred to by the common name "patio bolt". This is because the security bolt is commonly used in conjunction with sliding or swung hung doors, which may open onto a patio area associated with a dwelling. 25 However, the security bolt is not confined to such end uses and therefore the following will refer to a security bolt rather than by the common name "patio bolt". It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the terms are interchangeable. 30 2 The security bolt to which the present invention is applicable is of the type which includes a body from which projects a bolt element. The bolt element can be moved rectilinearly from a non-use position to a use 5 position. In the latter position, one end of the bolt element projects from the body and into a recess or fitting in the frame surrounding the door or window. There are currently a number of security bolts of this type available on the market. 10 The majority of these security bolts require the complete extraction of the bolt element from the body when removing the body from the door or window frame. This is because access to the screws which attach the body to the 15 frame, is blocked by the bolt element. To prevent the bolt element from being readily removed from the body, it is known to provide one or more retention spring clips within the body. These cooperate 20 with the bolt element so that it can only ever be drawn back into the non-use position. To achieve full removal of the bolt element, it is therefore necessary that the retention clip(s) be 25 manipulated so as to free up the bolt element for 3 (Followed by 3a) complete removal. This procedure can be fiddly and time consuming, especially as it is generally necessary to firstly remove a cover in order to gain access to the retention clip so that the clip can be manipulated. 5 Reference to any prior art in this specification does not constitute an admission that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION it would be desirable to provide a security bolt whereby manipulation of a retention clip within the body of the security bolt can be more easily manipulated so as to 15 achieve release of the bolt element from the body. Broadly according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a security bolt including a body, a bolt element slidingly mountable within the body, at 20 least one retention clip located within the body and engageable with the bolt element so as to prevent complete removal of the bolt element from the body characterized in that said body has at least one externally accessible release element, which can be moved 3a (Followed by 4) relative to the body, said release element mechanically cooperating with said retention clip, whereby upon movement of the release element the configuration of the 4 retention clip can be altered such that the bolt can be removed from the body. Preferably the release element is a cover which covers a 5 recess in the body in which said clip is located. The release element preferably includes a profiled portion which engages with a part of the retention clip such as to cause said part of the retention clip to move upon the relative movement between release element and body 10 occurring. Preferably the release element is slidingly engaged with the body. 15 In a preferred form the retention clip is substantially of U shape and is located in a grooved form within the body. One or both of legs of the U shaped clip can be of substantially Z shape whereby the distal ends of the legs are closer together than the ends of the legs where they 20 join the cross piece of the U shape. Preferably an underside part of the release element includes a profiled portion which engages with a part of the retention clip such that in response to movement of 25 the release element to an open position the part of the 5 retention clip which engages with the release element is caused to adopt a configuration which enables the bolt to be removed from the body. 5 Preferably the underside of the release element includes at least one profiled surface, the profiled surface contracting during sliding movement of the release element, with a leg of a substantially U shaped retention clip to cause relative movement between the legs as the 10 release element moves to its open position. Preferably the release element includes an externally accessible notch to facilitate movement thereof. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a security bolt incorporating the present invention, reference will be made to the accompanying 20 drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the security bolt, Figure 2 is a plan view of the security bolt, 25 6 Figure 3 is an isometric view of the bolt element in conjunction with a pair of retention clips and a lock cylinder, 5 Figure 4 is an isometric view of the body of the security bolt with the bolt element and covers removed, Figure 5 is an isometric view of one of the covers, 10 and Figure 6 is an underside plan view of the cover. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE 15 INVENTION As shown in Figure 1, the security bolt has a body 10 which is of generally elongate shape and through which is slidingly engaged a bolt element 11. At one end of the 20 bolt element 11 there is a knob 12, while the other end 13 of the bolt element 11 is tapered to form distal or engagement end. In Figures 1 and 2, the bolt 11 is shown in the in-use or "latching" position.

7 The body 10 includes a bulbous portion 14 which facilitates the incorporation of a standard key operable cylinder. In a known manner, the key cylinder 15 cooperates with the bolt element 11 (see Figure 3) 5 whereby the bolt element can be key locked into its use or projecting position. The manner in which the key cylinder operates and cooperates with the bolt element 11 is known in the art and further description herein is not required. 10 Remaining with Figure 3, there is shown a pair of retention spring clips 16, which cooperate with the bolt element 11. The retention clips 16 are generally of a U shape and thereby provide a pair of spaced apart cranked 15 or substantially Z shaped leg portions 17 and 18. Thus, as shown in Figure 3 and 4 the outer or distal ends of legs 17,18 are closer together than the ends (root ends) of the legs where they join to the cross piece of the U shape. 20 As can be seen in detail A of Figure 4, the clip 16 locates within the body 10 by sitting within a generally grooved portion 19. The legs 17 and 18 locate at diametrically opposite sides of a bore 20 through which 25 the bolt element 11 extends. The legs 17 and 18 of the 8 respective clips therefore are able to engage in grooves or waisted portions 21 and 22 (so called "notches") of the bolt element 11, as shown in Figure 3. 5 An arrangement of one or more spring clips 16 with a bolt element in a body of a security bolt is known in the art. For example, reference can be made to Australian patent specification no. 605970. The manner of cooperation of the clips with the bolt element in the present invention, 10 differs from that in Australian patent specification 605970, however, the principle of using clips to retain the bolt is shown in the Australian specification. Slidingly located in the external surface of body 10 is a 15 pair of covers 23 and 24. In the preferred form of the invention as shown, these covers are located at either end of the body 10. The covers 23/24 are located above recesses 32 which incorporate the clips 16. 20 Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the cover 23/24 is formed on its underside in a manner which provides a guide which can move the distal ends of the legs 17 and 18 of the spring 16 from a closed position (as shown in Figures 3 and 4) to an open position where the legs 17 25 and 18 are pushed apart. The cover 23/24 is slidingly 9 mounted with the body 10 so as to moveable from a closed position (see cover 23 in Figure 2) to an open position (see cover 24 in Figure 2). 5 Figures 5 and 6 reveal that the underside of the cover 23/24 has a pair of inclined surfaces 26. These inclined surfaces 26 converge inwardly from shouldered portions 27. The inclined edges 26 terminate at their closest approach at a lateral surface 28. 10 With the cover 23/24 in place on body 10 and in the closed position, the distal ends of legs 17 and 18 engage in the respective areas where the inclined edges 26 joint with the lateral wall 28. However, if the cover 23/24 is 15 slid into its open position, the ends of the legs 17 and 18 of the clip ride along inclined surfaces 26 to become located in the shoulder area 27. This operation parts the legs sufficiently for the legs to move clear of the notches 21,22 in bolt element 11. The bolt element is 20 thus free to be removed. A notch 29 is formed in the cover 23/24 to allow for a flat-headed screwdriver to be inserted and used to pull or prise the cover into the open position. It will be 10 seen that in this position edge 30 of the cover stands proud of the end of the body 10. The spring clips 16, by pressing against the bolt element 5 11, provide a retention/friction force in the axial plane of the bolt element 11. As shown and previously described, the bolt element 11 is notched (21,22). Therefore, when the springs 16 are aligned with the respective notches, they press into the area of the notch 10 and stop the bolt element 11 from moving any further in a direction which the bolt is moved from its use to non-use position. The covers 23 and 24 fit over the springs 16 and recesses 15 32 is the body 10. It is through the recesses 32 that access to the mounting screw holes in the body 10 is achieved. Accordingly, when each cover 23 and 24 is slid into its 20 open position, the legs 17 and 18 of the associated spring 16 are forced apart. The cover then holds the legs in such position while the bolt element 11 is removed from the body 10. This removal facilitates access through the recess 32 to the mounting screws (not shown) 11 so that screws can be removed to enable the body to be removed from the door/window. The bolt element 11 can be reinserted into the body 10 5 whereupon the covers 23 and 24 can be slid back into the closed position. This enables the legs 17 and 18 of the clips to move toward one another and into a position whereby they will ultimately engage in the notches 21,22 in the bolt element 11. The bolt is therefore once again 10 captured within the body 10 and can only be fully removed upon the covers 23 and 24 being once again slid back into the open position. The leading end 31 of the cover 23 is shaped so that it 15 can be used as a tool to part the legs 17,18 of the spring clip 16. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cover 23/24 is shaped so that it can slide-fit into 20 the open peripheral edge of the recess 32 in the body 10 to be slideable between the open and closed positions. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings 25 relate to only one form that the present invention may 12 take. Modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to the skilled person. The present invention thus provides a means whereby a 5 bolt element 11 in the security bolt can be removed in a simple and straight-forward manner by movement of the screw covers facilitating separation of the legs of a spring clip to thereby release the bolt. Consequently, the present invention removes the need to remove access 10 covers and then separately manipulate the clips (which can often be fiddly and indeed frustrating) so as to achieve removal of the bolt element.

Claims

1. A security bolt including a body, a bolt element 5 slidingly mountable within the body, at least one retention clip located within the body and engageable with the bolt element so as to prevent complete removal of the bolt element from the body, wherein said body has at least one externally 10 accessible release element, which can be moved relative to the body, said release element mechanically cooperating with said retention clip, whereby movement of the release element alters the configuration of the retention clip such that the 15 bolt can be removed from the body.

2. A security bolt as claimed in claim 1 wherein the release element covers a recess in the body in which said clip is located. 20

3. A security bolt as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the release element includes a profiled portion which engages with a part of the retention clip such as to cause said part of the retention clip to move 14 upon the relative movement between release element and body occurring.

4. A security bolt as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 5 wherein the release element is slidingly engaged with the body.

5. A security bolt as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the retention clip is substantially of U 10 shape and is located in a grooved form within the body.

6. A security bolt as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one leg of the U shaped clip is of 15 substantially Z shape whereby the distal end of the legs are closer together than the ends of the legs where they join the cross piece of the U shape.

7. A security bolt as claimed in claim 1 wherein the 20 release element is a cover which covers a recess in the body in which the retention clip is located, said cover being mounted for sliding movement between a closed position and an open position. 15

8. A security bolt as claimed in claim 7 wherein an underside part of the cover includes a profiled portion which engages with a part of the retention clip such that in response to movement of the cover 5 to the open position, said part of the retention clip is caused to adopt a configuration which enables the bolt to be removed from the body.

9. A security bolt as claimed in claim 7 wherein an 10 underside of the cover includes at least one profiled surface, the profiled surface contracting, during sliding movement of the cover, with a leg of a substantially U shaped retention clip to cause relative movement between the legs to part as the 15 cover moves to its open position.

10. A security bolt as claimed in claim 9 wherein the substantially U shaped retention clip is located in a grooved form in the recess. 20

11. A security bolt as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein each leg of the U shaped retention clip is cranked such that the distal end of the legs are closer together than the root ends. 25 16

12. A security bolt as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein an opening to receive a fastener for fastening of the body to a fixture is located in said recess. 5

13. A security bolt as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the release element includes an externally accessible notch to facilitate movement of the cover. 10

14. A security bolt substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15 DATED this thirtieth day of March 2004 Assa Abloy Financial Services AB 20 PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT DON HOPKINS & ASSOCIATES 25