AU2005203055B2 - Sliding panel lock - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract SLIDING PANEL LOCK A locking device (45) for a slidable panel (32) of a window or door assembly (31) comprising a spacer member (11') fixed to upper frame member (33) of the panel (32) and between the frame member (33) and head frame (37), a mounting bracket (12') engaged with the spacer member (It) and secured to the side frame member (35) of the panel (32) and a latching pin (26') on a resilient arm (23') integrally formed with the mounting bracket (12'), the latching pin (26') being engageable with a hole (43) in the head frame (37), the arm (23') being engageable by a releasing member (13') passed through a socket (19') on the spacer member (11') to allow retraction of the arm (23') and pin (26') to unlock the panel (32). 23' 37 39 43 434 26' 2\45

Description

1 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN MOSS Actual Inventor: CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN MOSS Address for Service: JOHN R.G. GARDNER SUITE 398 15 ALBERT AVENUE BROADBEACH QLD 4218 Invention title: SLIDING PANEL LOCK Details of Associated Provisional Applications No: 2004903891 filed 16 July 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- 2 SLIDING PANEL LOCK Technical Field This invention relates to a sliding panel lock and in particular to a lock for locking sliding windows including horizontal and vertical sliding windows which may be single 5 and/or double hung windows, and sliding doors. The lock however may also be applied to other sliding panels. Background Art Many different types of locks are available for locking sliding windows or doors. Windows for example are commonly provided with latches usually spring loaded latches 10 for normally locking the sliding window panel in a closed attitude and a number of different forms of additional locking devices can be used in relation to sliding windows to increase security of the normal window lock or latch. For example, clamps may be secured to .the track in which the window panel slides to limit or prevent its sliding movement from a closed or partly closed position. Other forms of locking devices are 15 key actuated locks which are mounted on the sliding window panel and which can be actuated to lock a locking pin into an aperture in the window track, Similar forms of locking device are also used for locking sliding doors. A disadvantage of some of the known forms of locking devices is that they can be circumvented by lifting the sliding panel out of the track in which it slides. Furthermore, 20 some of the above forms of locking devices tend to be relatively expensive. Often they require the use of keys such that if the property owner has a large number of sliding windows or doors, he may have a corresponding large number of keys. Of course it is possible to have a common key which can open the security locks of all of the sliding windows or doors however a single key for this purpose is a security risk. A further 25 disadvantage of the conventional sliding windows or doors is that a separate locking action to the normal window or door lock or latch is required which is time consuming particularly in the case of locks where separate keys are required to be applied to a lock which is spaced from the normal door lock. A particular problem is encountered in sliding windows in which the sliding panel 30 is desired to be secured in a partially open attitude such as windows in wet areas such as toilet or showers. Sliding window panels of this type are particularly susceptible to being removed by thieves so as to provide an entry point into a dwelling or building.

3 Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to provide an improved locking device for sliding panels typically sliding door or window panels which is of a relatively simple construction and which minimises the risks of the panel from being detached from the 5 track in which it slides to thereby provide an increased level of security. The present invention in a further preferred aspect, aims to provide a locking device which can function automatically to lock a sliding panel in a desired attitude. The present invention in yet a further preferred aspect aims to provide a locking device which avoids the use of conventional keys for locking or unlocking the device. In yet a further aspect, the present 10 invention provides a sliding window or door assembly provided with an improved locking device. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. The present invention thus provides in a first preferred aspect a locking device for use with a slidable panel, said locking device comprising a spacer member adapted to be 15 fixed to said slidable panel for movement therewith and at a position between a side or end of said slidable panel and a frame or track in relation to which said slidable panel slides, latching means associated with said spacer member and adapted to cooperate with said frame or track to lock said panel against sliding movement at a selected position along said frame or track and mounting means for mounting said latching means to said 20 slidable panel. The latching means is suitably adapted to lock the slidable panel against sliding movement at one of a plurality of positions along the frame or track. Suitably the latching means comprises a latching pin. Biasing means are suitably provide for biasing the latching pin towards a locked position. The pin is suitably adapted to engage with a 25 hole or opening in the frame or track to lock the panel against movement. Suitably, the pin is adapted to engage with one of a plurality of spaced holes or openings whereby the panel can be locked against movement in one of a plurality of positions. Preferably the pin is provided on an arm which biases the pin towards a position in which it may engage with a said hole or opening. Preferably the arm comprises a resilient arm. Alternatively, 30 separate biasing means such as a spring or other resilient means may be provided for biasing the pin and/or arm towards a latched position. The spacer member suitably comprises an elongated member which can be juxtaposed with an upper frame member or side frame member of the panel. The 4 elongated member may be secured to the upper or side frame member such as by suitable fasteners through the elongated member. Alternative or additional means however may be provided to secure the elongated member to the panel. The alternative or additional means 5 may comprise the mounting means which is co-operable with the spacer member to secure the spacer member in position. The mounting means may be secured to a further frame member of the panel orthogonal to the upper frame member or side frame member. Means are suitably provided for selectively withdrawing the latching pin from a hole or opening whereby to permit the panel to slide. The releasing means may comprise a 10 member which can cooperate with latching pin to allow retraction of the latching pin. Here the latching pin is provided on an arm, the releasing means may cooperate with the arm to allow retraction of the arm and thus the latching pin. Most preferably, the arm includes a tongue or tongues which may cooperate with a releasing member of the releasing means. The releasing member may include a head adapted for cooperation with the tongue or tongues. 15 The head may have a groove and the head may be rotated from a first disengaged position to a second engaged position in which the tongue or tongues locate within the groove. In the engaged position, the arm and thus latching pin may be retracted by the releasing member. The releasing means suitably comprises an elongated member provided with the head at one end. The head of the releasing member is suitably adapted to be located in a socket at one end 20 of the spacer member for cooperation with the tongue or tongues of the pin-carrying arm. The socket suitably guides the bead of the releasing member towards a position in which it may engage with the tongue or tongues. The socket suitably comprises a tubular socket and the releasing member is suitably of a complementary configuration to the socket so as to be receivable therein for rotation. 25 Preferably, the mounting means comprises a mounting bracket which is adapted to be engaged with the spacer member. The mounting bracket suitably includes a leg adapted to be secured to a side frame member or top frame member of the sliding panel by suitably fasteners. The leg may be secured to a track provided along the side frame member or top frame member. Where the latching pin is provided on an arm, the arm is suitably provided 30 on the mounting bracket. The arm may be fixed at one end to the mounting bracket and be free at its opposite end whereby the arm may be flexed about its one end and provide the biasing force to the latching pin. Suitably the arm is integrally formed with the mounting bracket.

5 The mounting bracket further may be provided with means to engage with the spacer member. Preferably the mounting bracket and spacer member have complementary 5 engagement parts. The complementary engagement parts may comprise a hook on the mounting bracket and a complementary flange on the mounting bracket with which the hook may engage. The present invention in a further preferred aspect provides a sliding door or window assembly comprising a panel slidable relative to a frame or track and a locking device for said 10 panel, said locking device including a spacer member fixed for movement with said sliding panel and located between a side or end of said sliding panel and said frame or track, latching means associated with said spacer member and adapted to cooperate with. said frame or track to lock said panel against sliding movement at a selected position along said frame or track and mounting means mounting said latching means to said panel. 15 The latching means is suitably of the above described type and comprises a latching pin and the frame or track suitably includes a plurality of spaced apertures or holes, the pin being adapted to locate in a selected hole or aperture to prevent sliding movement of the panel. In a typical configuration where the panel is a vertical panel supported for horizontal 20 sliding movement, the spacer member comprises an elongated member which is located between the panel and a head frame member of the window assembly to prevent or minimise the risks of the panel being lifted out of the frame of the window assembly and the head frame member includes the plurality of spaced apertures with which the latching pin may be engaged. Preferably biasing means as described above are associated with the latching pin to 25 bias the latching pin to a position in which in may engage with a selected hole or aperture. In another preferred aspect, the present invention provides a locking device for use with a slidable panel mounted for slidable movement relative to a frame or track, said locking device comprising latching means adapted to cooperate with said frame or track to lock said panel against sliding movement at a selected position along said frame or track, said latching 30 means comprising a latching pin, an arm supporting said latching pin and resiliently biasing said pin towards a locked position, the arm being detachably engaged by a releasing means extending downwardly from the latching means to release the slidable panel for movement, and mounting means for mounting said latching means to said slidable panel. Preferably the mounting means comprises a mounting bracket for mounting the 6 locking device to a side or end of the slidable panel. Preferably the arm is fixed at one end to the mounting bracket and is free at its opposite end, the free end carrying the pin. Preferably the arm is integrally formed with the mounting bracket. Releasing means may be provided to retract the arm and pin to release the slidable 5 panel for movement. Preferably the releasing means is adapted to engage the arm through a socket. Preferably the releasing means includes a releasing member having a head at one end adapted to be inserted into the socket to engage the arm. The head of the releasing member may have a groove on one side whereby when the head is positioned in the socket, it may be rotated to a position to receive and end portion of the arm to allow 10 retraction of the arm and pin. Whilst the locking devices of the present invention are particularly suited for use with sliding windows, doors or other panels which slide in a substantially horizontal track, they may equally be applied to sliding windows, doors or other panels which slide vertically. 15 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein : Fig. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate in side elevation, end elevation and plan view the locking 20 device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate in perspective view the components of the locking device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locking device along line A-A of Fig. 3 ; 25 Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the region X of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 illustrates a location block for use with the locking device; Fig. 10 illustrates the application of the locking device to a sliding window showing the locking device in an unlocked position; 30 Fig. 11 illustrates the application of the locking device to a sliding window with the locking device in a locked position; Fig. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate in side elevation, end elevation and plan view a locking device according to a further embodiment of the invention; 7 Figs. 15, 16 and 17 illustrate in perspective view the components of the locking device of Figs. 12, 13, and 14; Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locking device along line B-B of Fig. 14; 5 Fig. 19 is an enlarged view of the region Y of Fig. 18; Fig. 20 illustrates a typical spacer, at least a pair of which may be used with the locking device of Figs. 12 to 14; Fig. 21 illustrates a typical application of the locking device of Figs. 12 to 14 to a window; 10 Fig. 22 illustrates an alternative locking device according to the invention fitted to a window; and Fig. 23 is an enlarged sectional view of portion of the locking device of Fig. 22. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. I to 9, there is illustrated a locking 15 device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention comprised of three main parts, namely a spacer bracket 11, a securing or mounting bracket 12 and a release arm 13. The spacer bracket 11 comprises a substantially hollow elongated member 14 of rectangular cross section along the majority of its length and which is adapted to be positioned between the sliding panel to which the locking device 10 is applied and the head (in the 20 case of a horizontal sliding panel) of the frame in which the sliding panel slides. The member 14 comprises a bottom flange 15, opposite side flanges 16 and a plurality of transverse ribs 17 which extend between the opposite side flanges 16. Incorporated in a pair of the ribs 17 are tubular guides 18 for accepting screws or other fasteners for securing the member 14 to a sliding panel, 25 The spacer bracket 11 is provided at one end with a tubular socket 19 which opens into and extends at right angles to the member 14 and which is adapted to accept one end of the release arm 13. The bottom flange 15 at the end of the member 14 adjacent the bracket 11 is provided with a slot 20 through which the securing bracket 12 may extend as described further below. 30 The securing bracket 12 is adapted to be engaged with the spacer bracket I I by being inserted through the slot 20 and includes a leg 21 which, when the bracket 12 mates with the spacer bracket I , extends substantially at right angles to the elongated member 14. One end 22 of the leg 21 is stepped to one side of the remainder of the leg 8 21 -and includes openings 23 for receipt of fasteners such as screws or rivets for securing the leg 21 to a side of the sliding panel (or top of the sliding panel if the panel slides vertically). A flange 24 is provided at one end of the leg 21 and at extends substantially at right angles to the leg 21. The bracket 12 also includes a resilient latch arm 25 which is 5 fixed at one end to, and extends at right angles to the leg 21 and is free at its oppose end. The latch arm 25 suitably is integrally formed with the leg 21. The arm 25 is of such a length as to locate neatly between the end of the member 14 defined by the tubular socket 19 and the adjacent rib 17 when the securing bracket 12 is engaged and mates with the spacer bracket 11. The latch arm 25 carries an integrally formed latch pin 26 at its free 10 end. The arm 25 also includes beneath the latch pin 26 a latch release tongue 27 which may be bifurcated to form two fingers and which is adapted to be engaged by the one end of the release arm 13. The tongue or tongues 27 extend partly into the longitudinal line of the socket 19 so as to be accessible only through the socket 19 for releasing of the latch pin 26. This provides security in the locking device 10. The latch arm 25 as shown 15 more clearly in Fig. 5 is curved at its free end for cooperation with a corresponding inner surface of the socket 19. The release arm 13 is of elongated form and includes a head 28 at one end which is formed with an undercut groove 29 on one side for cooperation with the tongue or tongues 27. The opposite end of the release arm 13 comprises a gripping handle 30 of a 20 curved configuration for gripping and turning or twisting by a user. The main elongated portion of the arm 13 is of a circular cross section such that the head end thereof can be neatly and closely received within the tubular socket 19 so as to be rotatable therein. In use and as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the locking device 10 is typically used with a sliding window assembly 31 comprising a sliding panel 32 having an external 25 rectangular frame comprising top and bottom frame members 33 and 34 and opposite side frame members 35 extending therebetween (only one of which is shown) arranged for sliding movement along a U-sectioned horizontal base frame 36 at its lower end and guided at its upper end in a U-sectioned head frame 37 parallel to the frame 36. The spacing between the frames 36 and 37 is normally such that the panel 32 can be inserted 30 by lifting it upwardly into the upper frame 37 and then lowering it to seat on a track in the lower frame 36. A gap 38 thus exists between the upper frame member 33 of the sliding panel 32 and flange 39 of the frame 37 which creates a potential security problem. The locking device 10 is initially assembled by inserting the securing bracket 12 9 into the top of the spacer bracket 1 such that the leg 21 extends through the slot 20 with the flange 24 seating on the top of the base flange 15 of the member 13 and the latch arm 25 extending between the tubular guide 19 and adjacent flange 17. The spacer bracket 11 is then positioned along the upper frame member 33 of the panel 32 either prior to the 5 panel 32 being assembled with the frames 36 and 37 of the window or with the panel 32 removed from the frames 36 and 37. The end 22 of the leg 21 is also positioned adjacent to a side frame member 35 of the panel 32. The bracket II in this position projects beyond the side frame member 35 such that the tubular socket 19 is accessible from below. Screws or other fasteners 40 are then used to secure the bracket 1 to the frame 10 member 33 through the tubular guides 28 and screws or other fasteners 41 used to secure the leg 21 to the frame member 35 through the openings 23. If necessary, a location or spacer block 42 can be interposed between the end 22 of the leg 21 and side frame member 33. A series of holes or bores 43 are also provided at spaced positions along the top 15 flange 39 of the upper horizontal frame 37 such as by drilling. The holes or bores 43 may be provided at any location and spacing where required along the flange 39 and are of slightly greater diameter than the pin 26. The window assembly 31 may then be reassembled with the panel 32 positioned between the upper and lower frames 36 and 37 as shown in Fig. 10 with the spacer bracket 11 interposed between the upper frame 20 member 33 and flange 39. Where the latch pin 26 is not located in a hole or bore 43, it will engage the flange 39 to resiliently deflect the arm 25 downwardly into the bracket 11 as shown in Fig. 10. When the panel 32 is slid horizontally as shown in Fig. 11, the latch pin 26 will, when it becomes aligned with a hole or bore 43, locate within the hole or bore 43 under 25 the influence of the resilient force applied by the arm 25. The pin 26 will thus effectively snap into position. When the pin 26 locates within a hole or bore 43, further sliding movement of the panel 32 in either direction will be prevented. The panel 32 cannot be released for sliding movement unless the pin 26 is moved out of a hole or bore 43 and this can only be achieved with the release arm 13 as described further below. 30 To release the latch pin 26 from the hole or bore 43, the head 28 of the release arm 13 is inserted into the tubular socket 19 until it reaches the resilient arm 25. The arm 13 can then be rotated approximately 180 degrees as shown more clearly in Fig. 8 so that the tongue or tongues 27 locates or locate within the undercut groove 29 in the head 28.

10 A force may then be applied to the arm 13 downwardly in the direction Z in Fig. 8 and I I and the engagement between the head 28 and tongue 27 via the groove 29 will enable the latch arm 25 to be pulled downwardly against its resilience into the position of Fig. 10 and thus withdrawal of the latch pin 26 from the hole or bore 43 into the spacer bracket 5 11. This will therefore permit the sliding panel 32 to be slid in opposite directions until the latch arm 25 is released by the release arm 13 for example by rotation whereby the latch arm 25 will move back to the position of Fig. 10 unless the pin 26 is aligned with a hole or bore 43. The release arm 13 thus acts like a key. The release arm 13 as in Fig. 2 can be removed from the tubular socket 19 such that the sliding panel 32 is either locked 10 against sliding or only able to slide to a limited extent unless the release arm 13 is in position retracting the arm 25 and pin 26. Figs. 12 to 21 illustrate an alternative embodiment of locking device 45 according to the present invention which is similar to the embodiment of Figs. I to I1 and in which like components have been given like numbers but designated by a prime ( ' ). In this 15 case however, the spacer bracket I I t is of extended length as compared to the bracket 11 to provide additional security. Further the bottom flange 15' is provided with sets of spaced apertures or recesses 46 for receipt of a pair of pins 47 of a spacer 48 (see Fig. 20) which may be interposed between the bracket 11' and top frame member 33 of the panel 32. Spacers 48 are used where the distance between the panel top frame member 33 and 20 head frame flange 39 is substantially greater than the thickness of the member 13' of the bracket 11'. Spacers 48 may be provided in tandem with one piggybacked on top of the other to increase the effective thickness of the spacer. Spacers of different thickness however may be provided depending upon the application. Further in this embodiment, the securing bracket 12' is adapted to cooperate with 25 a transverse rib 49 of the bracket 11' which is of reduced height, to more positively engage the bracket 12' with the spacer bracket 11'. For this purpose, a return flange 50 extends to the side of the leg 21' opposite the resilient latch arm 23' and defines a hook 51 which can hook over the rib 49 as shown in Fig. 19. The release arm 13' is similar to the arm 13 except that the gripping handle 30' is 30 substantially linear although tapering in cross section. As shown in Fig. 21, the locking device 45 is used with a sliding panel 32 of a window assembly 31 in a similar manner to use of the locking device 10. In this case however, when the securing bracket 12 is inserted from the top of the spacer bracket I I , 1 the leg 21 projects through the slot 20 and the hook 50 hooks over the flange 49 to more securely engage the bracket 12 with the bracket I1 . Furthermore in this embodiment, the spacer bracket 11 is not secured to the top frame member 33 of the panel 32 but is simply retained in position by the fixing of the bracket 12 to the side frame member 35 5 of the panel 32. This arrangement permits retrofitting of the locking device 45 to existing windows, doors or other sliding panels. Thus for fitting of the locking device 45, the panel 32 is typically removed from between the upper and lower frames 37 and 36 and the locating holes 43 then drilled or otherwise formed in the flange 39 of the upper frame 37 of the window assembly 31. 10 The sliding panel 32 is then replaced between the frames 36 and 37 by elevating the panel 32 into the top frame 37 and lowering it into the lower frame 36 and onto the track therein. The spacer bracket 11 is then slid into place longitudinally between the top frame member 33 and flange 39 and secured in position by means of the securing bracket 12 with the leg 21 being secured by screws 41 to the side frame member 35 of the panel 15 32. If necessary and as shown in Fig. 21, spacers 48 may be provided on the underside of the bracket 11 being engaged with the bores 46 to increase the effective thickness of the spacer bracket 12. The locking device 45 functions in a similar manner to that described above with the pin 26 locating in a selected hole 43 in the top frame 37 of the window assembly 31 20 to prevent sliding movement of the panel 32. When it is desired to unlatch or unlock the panel 35 from this position, the release arm 13 is inserted into the socket 19 and rotated such that the head 28 of the arm 13' can engage with the tongue or tongues 27 such that downward force applied to the arm 13 will retract the pin 26 out of the hole 43. Referring now to Fig, 22 , there is illustrated a further embodiment of locking 25 device 52 according to the present invention associated with a sliding window assembly 31. The locking device 52 is similar to the previously described locking devices such as the device 10 of Figs. 12 to 19 however in this case, the locking device 52 does not include an elongated spacer member 11'. The device 53 however includes a similar securing bracket 12' which is received within a hollow socket member 53 which is of the 30 same configuration as the end portion of the spacer member 11'. The securing bracket 12' is secured to the socket member 53 by means of a screw fastener 54 through the overlapping flange 50 and rib 49 as shown in Fig. 23 The securing bracket 12' may be secured to the side frame member 35 of the 12 sliding window panel 32 in the same manner as that described with reference to Figs. I to 11. Alternatively the side frame member 35 may having a re-entrant channel or track 55 along its outer edge. The channel 55 is adapted to receive lugs 56 which can be placed in the channel 55 and rotated so as to be captured within the channel 55. The lugs 56 are 5 secured to the bracket 12' by screw fasteners 57 to clamp the bracket 12' to the side frame member 35. It will of course be appreciated that the securing brackets described in Figs. I to 21 may be secured similarly to a side frame member 35 of a sliding panel having a channel along its edge in a similar manner. The locking device 52 has in the previous embodiments a latch pin 26' on a 10 resilient arm 23' which may locate in a hole or opening 43 in the top frame member 39 of the window 31. Similarly the latch pin 26' can be retracted by the release arm 31' in a similar manner to that described above. The present invention thus provides a simple and effective arrangement for increasing security of sliding windows, doors or other slidable panels. Whilst the latching 15 arrangements are preferably of the configuration described, it will be apparent that latching may be provided by many other configurations of latch. Thus the latching pin may be biased towards a latched position by other biasing means such as springs or other resilient means. Other arrangements may also be provided for retracting the latching pin. Most preferably, the latching devices are formed of plastics materials such as by 20 being formed by injection moulding. The latching devices however may be formed of metal or combinations of plastics and metal. The principals of the invention described above is the same for both horizontal and vertical windows however for vertical windows the spacer bracket and arm are preferably of a different shape to accommodate for a different location within the window 25 frame. The terms "comprising" or "comprises" or derivatives thereof as used throughout the specification are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof. 30 Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A locking device for use with a slidable panel mounted for slidable movement relative to a frame or track, said locking device comprising latching means adapted to cooperate with 5 said frame or track to lock said panel against sliding movement at a selected position along said frame or track, said latching means comprising a latching pin, an arm supporting said latching pin and resiliently biasing said pin towards a locked position, the arm being detachably engaged by a releasing means extending downwardly from the latching means to release the slidable panel for movement, and mounting means for mounting said latching 10 means to said slidable panel.

2. A locking device as claimed in claim I wherein said mounting means comprises a mounting bracket for mounting the locking device to a side or end of the slidable panel. 15

3. A locking device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said arm is fixed at one end to the mounting bracket and is free at its opposite end, the free end carrying the pin.

4. A locking device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said arm is integrally formed with the mounting bracket. 20

5. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said releasing means is adapted to engage the arm through a socket.

6. A locking device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the releasing means includes a 25 releasing member having a head at one end adapted to be inserted into the socket to engage the arm and thus the latching pin.

7. A locking device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the head of the releasing member has a groove on one side whereby when the head is positioned in the socket, it may be rotated to a 30 position to receive an end portion of the arm to allow retraction of the arm and pin.

8. A locking device as claimed in claim I wherein said latching means is adapted to lock the slidabte panel against sliding movement at one of a plurality of positions along the frame or track. 14

9. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pin is adapted to engage with a hole or opening in the frame or track to lock the panel against movement.

10. A locking device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pin is provided on an arm which 5 biases the pin towards a position in which it may engage with a said hole or opening.

I I A locking device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said arm comprises a resilient arm.

12. A locking device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said mounting means comprises a 10 mounting bracket and wherein said arm is fixed at one end to the mounting bracket and free at its opposite end whereby the arm may be flexed about its one end and provide the biasing force to the latching pin.

13. A locking device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said arm is integrally formed with 15 the mounting bracket.

14. A locking device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said arm includes a tongue or tongues adapted to cooperate with the releasing member of the releasing means. 20

15. A locking device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said releasing member includes a head adapted for engagement with the tongue or tongues.

16. A locking device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said head has a groove and wherein said head may be rotated from a first disengaged position to a second engaged position in 25 which the tongue or tongues locate within the groove to enable retraction of the latching pin by the releasing member.

17. A locking device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said releasing member comprises an elongated member provided with the head at one end. 30

18. A locking device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said head of the releasing member is adapted to be located in a socket at one end of the spacer member for cooperation with the tongue or tongues of the pin-carrying arm. 15

19. A locking device as claimed in claim 18 wherein said socket comprises a tubular socket and wherein the releasing member is of a complementary configuration to the socket so as to be receivable therein for rotation. 5

20. A locking device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. I to 11, 12 to 21 or 22 and 23 of the accompanying drawings