AU636834B1

AU636834B1 -

Info

Publication number: AU636834B1
Application number: AU2821292A
Authority: AU
Current assignee: Lalarr Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1992-09-11
Filing date: 1992-11-09
Publication date: 1993-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1998-11-09

Description

636834 P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COM P L E T E S P EC I F I C AT ION FOR A PETTY PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: ADRIAN MENZELL Actual Inventor(s): ADRIAN MENZELL S Address for Service: JOHN R.G. GARDNER REGISTERED PATENT ATTORNEY PO BOX 443 MUDGEERABA QLD 4213 Invention Title: A SECURITY DEVICE Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos: PL 4650 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- THIS INVENTION relates to a security device and in particular a security device for sliding doors or other sliding panels.

A number of different arrangements are known for locking sliding doors or windows in a closed, open or partially open attitude. Such devices often comprise locks which are carried by the sliding panel which may be actuated to project into an aperture provided in the frame which supports the sliding panel. Usually such devices are located either at the top or bottom of the panel which makes them difficult to use, particularly for aged persons. Such locks are also relatively expensive. Other arrangements employed for holding panels in a closed attitude have been lengths of rod which are placed horizontally in the lower track extrusion of the window or door frame to bear against the sliding panel and the frame. Such devices only hold a window or door in a fully closed attitude and cannot securely hold a window or door in a partially open attitude.

present invention aims to overcome the above 20 disadvantages or at least provide an alternative to the known devices by providing a security device adapted to be associated with a sliding window or door panel to hold the door or window panel efficiently and effectively in any desired attitude S. between an open and closed position. The present invention 25 also aims to provide a device which is relatively inexpensive, which may be fitted to installed doors or windows or incorporated into new doors or windows. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent hereunder.

The present invention thus provides a security device for use with a sliding door or window panel of the type supported for sliding movement in guide tracks, said security device comprising an elongated member adapted to be mounted in a generally upright attitude to one end of said panel, said elongated member being captured for sliding movement on spaced apart guide pins adapted to be secured to said one end of said panel so as to be moveable between a locked position wherein said member co-operates with a said track to prevent movement 3 of said panel along said tracks and an unlocked position permitting said panel to move along said tracks, Preferably the track is provided with at least one aperture or slot into which an end of the member may project to lock the panel against movement. For this purpose the track may be provided with a pair of opposite apertures arranged on opposite sides of the normal roller rail and the lower end of the member may be bifurcated to define a pair of fingers for co-operation with the respective apertures. Apertures or sets of apertures may be provided at any desired position along the track where the panel is required to be locked against movement. In an alternative form the rail along which the panel slides or rolls may be slotted at spaced apart positions to receive an end of the member to thereby lock the panel against movement.

The elongated member may be supported to the panel such as to normally be engaged with the track and drop automatically into an aperture or apertures or slot formed in the lower track. The end of the elongated member for this 20 purpose may be provided with a tip of low friction material such as teflon so as to be adapted for smooth running along the track.

s The elongated member is preferably provided with slots for receiving the guide pins which permit guided movement 25 of the elongated member. The pins may be provided with rollers which facilitate guided movement of the member. Latch means may be provided for latching the elongated member in a retracted or raised attitude. Such latch means may be defined by a portion of one of the slots into which one of the pins may be relatively moved. The elongated member is preferably provided adjacent its normally upper end with a handle or engagement portion which facilitates the lifting of the member.

The handle may be in the form of a portion of the member turned outwardly to define an arm which can be grasped by the user.

Alternatively, the handle may comprise one or more dimples or apertures in the member which define finger grips to enable the S. elongated member to be engaged and lifted.

3 a For the purposes of additional security a locking device may be mounted to the member, the locking device being actuable when the member is in its locked position to prevent S i f Ill its movement therefrom. The locking device preferably comprises a key operated lock which includes a locking pin movable into engagement with an adjacent portion of the door or window frame. The door or window frame may also be provided with a stop at its upper end opposite the elongated member or a packing member to minimize or limit twisting movement of the door or window frame and thereby enhance security.

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 is a perspective view showing the security device of the invention applied to a sliding door: Fig. 2 is an end view of the device of Fig. 1 in a locked engaged position; Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line A-A of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device of Fig. 1 in S. raised or an unlocked position; Fig. 5 is an exploded view of an alternative form of security device according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a view of a stop for the frame of the window or door for limiting movement in its track; and Fig. 7 is a view of the top portion of a door or window provided with a packing member for limiting upward movement.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a security device 10 according to the present S4 invention applied in this instance to the frame 11 of a sliding door 12 supported for sliding movement along a track 13. The security device 10 is in the form of an elongated member 14 having at its upper end a handle 15 which may be simply formed by an outwardly directed portion of the member 14. The member 14 is provided with a pair of spaced apart elongated slots 16 and 17 through which guide assemblies 18 project into the frame member 19 of the door frame 11. As shown more clearly in Figs, 2 to 4 the guide assemblies 18 include screws 20 on which rollers 21 are supported which facilitate the longitudinal I -l -i ~i;i movement of the member 14. A pair of washers 22 preferably of a thin low frictional material are arranged at opposite ends of the roller 21 and on opposite sides of the member 14 to ensure that the member 14 is captured for smooth sliding movement to the frame member 19. The upper slot 16 extends generally longitudinally of the member 14 and additionally includes at its lower end an outwardly directed slot portion 23 which serves part of a latching arrangement as described further below.

The track 13 may as is conventional include a rail 24 upon which wheels or sliders of the window or door 12 may run.

In the embodiment illustrated sections 25 of the rail 24 may be removed to receive the lower end of the member 14. Such sections 25 may be located at any desired positions along the 15 rail 24. Tn an alternative arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the lower end of the member 14 may be bifurcated to define a pair of tongues 26 which locate in use on either side of the S" rail 24. The track 13 in this format is provided w'th S apertures 27 to receive the tongues 26. The tongues 26 and/or the lower end of the member 14 may be provided with tips 28 of friction reducing material such as teflon so that the member 14 may run smoothly along the track 13. When, however, a slot 25 or opening 27 is located the member 14 will drop under the 2 influence of gravity therein to lock the window or door 12 against movement. Alternatively the member 14 may be lifted until a slot 25 or opening 27 is located into which the end of the member 14 or tongues 26 may be inserted after which the member 14 may be released to locate in the slot 24 or opening 27.

If it desired to maintain the member 14 in an inoperative position, it is lifted upwardly and pivoted about the lower guide assembly 18 as shown in Fig. 4 so that the upper guide assembly 18 moves into the transverse portion 23 of the slot 16. This will prevent the member 14 from dropping downwardly and hold the member 14 retracted.

The member 14 is preferably of such a length that the handle 15 is easily accessible to a user without stooping. Thus the handle 15 is preferably arrange at or about waist level.

In some embodiments only a single aperture 27 is provided and the lower end of the member 14 provided with a corresponding configuration for location within that aperture.

Preferably where apertures 27 are provided they are closed by dust caps, spring biased to a position at the upper end of the aperture 27 so as to prevent the gathering of dust and grit therein which would effect operation of the device. Such caps would be retractable against the bias of the springs when engaged by the lower end of the member 14.

Referring now to Fig. 5 there is illustrated an exploded view and an alternative embodiment of the invention in which like components to the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 have been given like numerals. In this embodiment the S' 15 elongated member 14 in lieu of the handle 15 is provided with a pair of dimples or apertures 29 adjacent its upper end for the receipt of the fingers of the user. This arrangement increased security as it minimizes the risks of tampering externally of the window or door. Security may be further enhanced by means of the key operated lock 30, the barrel of the lock 30 being mounted to the member 14 and having a locking pin 31, the pin 31 including an enlarged end 32. The frame 19 is provided with an aperture 33 with which the pin 31 is aligned in the Fig. 2 attitude, In this position the key 34 may be engaged with the lock barrel and cause the pin 31 to be advanced into the aperture and then rotated as indicated by the arrow X so that the end 32 locates behind the aperture 33.

This is the locked position of the member 14 so that upon removal of the key 34, the member 14 cannot be moved from its Fig. 2 attitude.

To further enhance security the upper end of the door frame 19 on the opposite side of the device 10 may be provided with a stop 35 as shown in Fig. 6 which is adjusted to a position to lie adjacent to the upper outer track 36 to limit rocking movement of the door which would tend to disengage the locking member 14. The stop 35 may comprise a small section of aluminium or a synthetic material.

Fig. 7 illustrates an alternative arrangement for limiting upward movement of the door or window frame 11 relative to the upper track 36 which is generally of U or channel shaped cross-section. In this arrangement the frame 11 is provided along its upper edge with a packing member 37 which fills a substantial portion of the space 38 between the upper edge of the frame 11 and track 36. The packing member 37 may in one embodiment be formed of a flexible material such as a rubber strip which may be turned over at each end 39 and secured to the end of the frame by means of any suitable fastener 40 such as a rivet or screw. Of course the packing member 37 may be of any other material such as wood, metal or plastics. This arrangement ensures that the door or window frame 11 cannot be lifted upwardly a sufficient extent to 15 either allow disengagement of the security device 10 of the invention or removal of the door or window from its track.

The member 14 is preferably formed of a metal such as an aluminium strip. The member 14, however, may be of 0 configurations other than that described and shown above.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of •2 the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I

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Claims

1. A security device for use with a sliding door or window panel of the type supported for sliding movement in guide tracks, said security device comprising an elongated member adapted to be mounted in a generally upright attitude to one end of said panel, said elongated member being captured for sliding movement on spaced apart guide pins adapted to be secured to said one end of said panel so as to be moveable between a locked position wherein said member co-operates with said track to prevent movement of said panel along said tracks and an unlocked position permitting said panel to move along said tracks.

2. A security device according to Claim 1 wherein 15 said elongated member further includes means co-operable with one of said pins for selectively maintaining said member in said unlocked position. 20

3. A security device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 20 and including locking means for selectively locking said member to said panel to prevent movement of said member relative to said panel so as to maintain said member in said locked position. I Dated this tenth day of February 1993 25 ADRIAN MENZELL 25 By My Patent Attorney s 30 JOHN R.G. GARDNER ABSTRACT A security device (10) for sliding windows or door panels (12) of the type arranged for sliding movement along a track the device (10) comprising an elongated member (14) mounted for vertical movement to the end of a frame member (19) of the panel (12) and being movable into a slot (25) or apertures (27) in the track (13) to prevent movement of the panel (12). b a S* a I••o S