AU2005201176B2

AU2005201176B2 - Interlocking Arrangement for a Sliding Door

Info

Publication number: AU2005201176B2
Application number: AU2005201176A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jamie Dimitrios Elias Koutsoukos
Original assignee: G&J Koutsoukos Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: G&J Koutsoukos Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-03-24
Filing date: 2005-03-18
Publication date: 2009-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-18
Also published as: AU2005201176B8; AU2005201176A1

Description

P/00/0 1128/5/91 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: G & J Koutsoukos Holdings Pty Ltd Actual Inventor Jamie Dimitrios Elias Koutsoukos Address for service is: WRAY & ASSOCIATES Level 4, The Quadrant 1 William Street Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Interlocking Arrangement for a Security Screen The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 - 2 "Interlockina Arrangement for a Sliding Door" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sliding door. Background 5 It is currently common practice for sliding doors, particularly glass doors, of office and residential buildings to be supplemented with sliding security screen doors which allow ventilation and the passage of light into the building but which are intended to prevent unauthorised access to the interior of the building. In such doors there is often provided an interlocking arrangement between the door 10 frame and the door which prevents separation of the rear edge of the door from the door frame. However the interlocking arrangement can be interfered with which renders the door vulnerable. Disclosure of the Invention Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word 15 "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Accordingly, the invention resides in an interlock arrangement for a sliding door wherein said door is supported from a door frame for slidable movement 20 between an open and closed position across an opening defined by the door frame, the door having a leading edge adapted to be lockingly engaged with the door frame when the door is in the closed position and a trailing edge which is in opposed relation to the leading edge, an abutment supported from the trailing edge and adapted to be engageable with a mating element on the door frame 25 when the door is in the closed position, said engagement preventing at least lateral movement of the trailing edge relative to the door frame, the abutment -3 having a portion arranged and configured to be supported from a fixing supported from the trailing edge, said fixing being fixed to the trailing edge by a fixing means, the fixing means being rendered inaccessible when the abutment is supported from the fixing. 5 According to preferred feature of the invention the fixing defines a pair of recesses at each side of the trailing edge, said recesses being in opposed relation to each other, said portion being receivable over the fixing and adapted to engage in the recesses to be supported from the fixing. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the fixing comprises a section having a 10 channel shaped cross-sectional configuration, wherein the web of the section is fixed to the trailing edge and the free edges of the flanges of the section are directed in opposed relation to the trailing edge, the outer portion of the flanges having a laterally directed lip, said recesses being defined between the trailing edge and the respective lip. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the 15 open faces of the recesses are directed outwardly from the plane of the door. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the portion has a channel shaped cross-sectional configuration wherein the flanges of the portion are matingly receivable in the recesses. According to a preferred feature of the invention the fixing is formed as a single 20 elongate member and extends for substantially the full length of the trailing edge. According to a preferred feature of the invention the mating element extends for substantially the full length of the trailing edge. According to an alternative preferred feature of the invention a plurality of fixings are fixed at spaced intervals along the length of the trailing edge. 25 According to a preferred feature of the invention, the portion is slidably receivable along the fixing to be interengaged therewith. According to a preferred feature of the invention the portion extends for substantially the full length of the trailing edge. According to a preferred feature -4 of the invention the abutment extends for substantially the full length of the trailing edge. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the abutment is configured as a flange extending from the portion in spaced parallel relationship from the portion 5 of the inner face of the door at a position adjacent the trailing edge. The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of one specific embodiment. Brief Description of the Drawings The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: 10 Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a sliding door and frame assembly, incorporating a security screen door, provided with the interlock arrangement according to the embodiment; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of that interlock arrangement when the security screen door is closed; and 15 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of that interlock arrangement when the security screen door is open. Detailed Description of the Specific Embodiments The embodiment as shown at Figure 1 comprises an interlock arrangement 10 for use in connection with a security screen door 12 incorporated into an 20 assembly comprising a glass sliding door 14 and associated door frame 16, (the periphery of the door frame 16 being shown in broken lines for clarity). The purpose of the interlock arrangement 10 is to render difficult lateral outward movement of the trailing edge of the screen door 12 from the frame 16 when the screen door 12 is closed.

-5 The screen door 12 is slidably supported, at its top and bottom edges, in opposed rails 18, provided in the door frame 16, to enable the door to slide across an opening 20 (doorway) in the door frame 16 between an open position, allowing access through the opening 20 (when the glass door 14 is retracted), 5 and a closed position, preventing access through the opening 20. The screen door 12 is provided adjacent its leading edge 13 with a handle and lock assembly 15 which is engagable with the frame 16 to secure and lock the screen door 12 in its closed position. As shown at figures 2 and 3 the interlock arrangement 10 comprises a female 10 interlocking portion 18, fixed to the periphery of the screen door 12 at its trailing edge 17, and a male interlocking portion 21 fixed to a mullion 22 provided in the frame 16, the female and male interlocking portions 18 and 21 are positioned to be interlockingly engaged when the screen door 12 is in its closed position (as shown at Figure 2). The female interlocking portion 18 comprises a fixing 15 member 24, supported at the trailing edge 17 of the screen door 12 and extending substantially for the length of the trailing edge and across the width of the trailing edge. The fixing member 24 is formed as an extruded channel shaped section comprising a central web 30 and opposed flanges 32 extending from the edges of the web 30 such that the channel is of a generally U-shaped 20 configuration. The free edges of the flanges 32 are provided with outwardly directed lips 33. The web 30 of the fixing member 24 is fixed to the trailing edge 17 by means of conventional fastening elements 28, such as rivets and because of the U-shaped configuration of the fixing member 24, the portions of the fixing elements 28 protruding from the exposed face of the web 30 are accommodated 25 within the channel of the fixing member 24. When the fixing member 24 is fixed to the trailing edge the flanges 32 of the fixing member extend form the web 30 in opposed relation to the trailing edge. The lips 33 and flanges 32 of the fixing member and the end face of the trailing edge cooperate to define opposed recesses 36 along each side of the trailing edge 17 where the open faces of the 30 recesses are directed outwardly from the plane of the door.

-6 The female interlocking portion 18 further comprises a covering member 40, of complementary form to the fixing member 24, which is slidably received over the fixing member 24. The covering member 40 is formed as an extruded section comprising a web 44 and a pair of opposed flanges 46 extending perpendicularly 5 from the web with one flange being provided at an edge of the web 44 which in use is to be adjacent the front face of the screen door 12 and the other flange being provided spaced inwardly from the other edge of the web and in use is to be adjacent the rear face of the screen door 12. The flanges 46 are each formed with inwardly-directed lips 48 which are receivable in the recesses 36 such that 10 the covering member 40 is interlockingly engagable with the fixing member 24 when the covering member is received over the recess as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The covering member 40 further comprises, a further flange 50 extending perpendicularly and parallel to the flanges 46 from the other edge. The further 15 flange 50, web 44 and intermediate flange 46 define a slot 54 which in use is to receive the male interlocking portion 21, as will now be described. The male interlocking portion 21 comprises a section comprising a central narrow web 60, and flanges 61 and 62 which extend form the opposite sides of the web 60 in parallel but opposite directions. The one flange 62 is fixed, by means of 20 conventional fasteners 63, such as rivets, against the front face of the mullion 22, such that the other flange 61 is directed towards the trailing edge of the screen door to be receivable in the slot 54 defined by the covering member when the screen door 12 is closed. When the screen door 12 is closed 9 as shown at Figure 2), the flange 61 of the male interlocking portion 21 overlaps with the 25 flange 50 of the covering member to be received in the slot 54 such that in the event of an outward lateral pulling force being applied to the trailing edge of the screen door (i.e. transverse to the direction of slidable movement of the screen door 12) causes the flanges to prevent relative lateral movement between the trailing edge and the door frame 16.

-7 The construction is such that the covering member 44, overlies the portions of the fixing elements 20 located against the exposed face of the web 30 of the fixing member protects the fastening elements from being accessed. Moreover the configuration of the covering member 44 and its engagement with the fixing 5 member 24 is such that it must be introduced over an end of the fixing member 24 and slid along the trailing edge to be located in position. As a result the covering member and cannot be removed from the fixing member 24 without removal of the screen door 12 from the frame 16. Therefore to gain access to the fastening elements 28 holding the fixing member to the screen door it is 10 necessary to destructively deform the covering member for the length of the trailing edge of the door. In addition, by providing a fixing means that is concealed from view, by the covering means results in a neat appearance. Furthermore, because the fastening elements are concealed and are also very 15 difficult to access, conventional fixings such as screws or rivets may be used rather than expensive tamper proof screws which would be required where the fixings are exposed. The interlock arrangement 10 of the first embodiment has equal application to other sliding doors which may not take the form of security doors per se. 20 According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the fixing member of the first embodiment is formed as a set of elements located at spaced intervals along the length of the trailing edge. According to another alternative embodiment of the invention the fixing member of the first embodiment is formed as a section where the opposed flanges 32 are 25 formed as set of spaced lugs along the length of the web and each lug is formed with the outwardly directed lips 33.

-8 According to another alternative embodiment of the invention the fixing member of the first embodiment is formed as a section where the outwardly directed lips 33 are formed as set of spaced lugs along the length of the flanges 32 of the fixing member. 5 It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiments described above.

Claims

1. An interlock arrangement for a sliding door wherein said door is supported from a door frame for slidable movement between an open and closed 5 position across an opening defined by the door frame, the door having a leading edge adapted to be lockingly engaged with the door frame when the door is in the closed position and a trailing edge which is in opposed relation to the leading edge, an abutment supported from the trailing edge and adapted to be engageable with a mating element on the door frame 10 when the door is in the closed position, said engagement preventing at least lateral movement of the trailing edge relative to the door frame, the abutment having a portion arranged and configured to be supported from a fixing supported from the trailing edge, said fixing being fixed to the trailing edge by a fixing means, the fixing means being rendered 15 inaccessible when the abutment is supported from the fixing.

2. An interlock arrangement as claimed at claim 1 wherein the fixing defines a pair of recesses at each side of the trailing edge, said recesses being in opposed relation to each other, said portion being receivable over the fixing and adapted to engage in the recesses to be supported from the 20 fixing.

3. An interlock arrangement as claimed at claim 2 or 3 wherein the fixing comprises a section having a channel shaped cross-sectional configuration, wherein the web of the section is fixed to the trailing edge and the free edges of the flanges of the section are directed in opposed 25 relation to the trailing edge, the outer portion of the flanges having a laterally directed lip, said recesses being defined between the trailing edge and the respective lip. - 10

4. An interlock arrangement as claimed at claim 2 or 3 wherein the open faces of the recesses are directed outwardly from the plane of the door.

5. An interlock arrangement as claimed at any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the portion has a channel shaped cross-sectional configuration wherein 5 the flanges of the portion are matingly receivable in the recesses.

6. An interlock arrangement as claimed at claim any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the fixing is formed as a single elongate member and extends for substantially the full length of the trailing edge.

7. An interlock arrangement as claimed at claim 6 wherein the mating 10 element extends for substantially the full length of the trailing edge.

8. An interlock arrangement as claimed at any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein a plurality of fixings are fixed at spaced intervals along the length of the trailing edge.

9. An interlock arrangement as claimed at any one of the preceding claims 15 wherein the portion is slidably receivable along the fixing to be interengaged therewith.

10.An interlock arrangement as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the portion extends for substantially the full length of the trailing edge. 20

11.An interlock arrangement as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the abutment extends for substantially the full length of the trailing edge.

12.An interlock arrangement as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the abutment is configured as a flange extending from the portion -11 in spaced parallel relationship from the portion of the inner face of the door at a position adjacent the trailing edge.

13. An interlock arrangement substantially as herein described.