AU678845B2 - Security device - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art:

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APPLICANT'S REF: COMPLETE-ASSOCIATED- WITH-PROVISIONAL PM 1589 .piicant(s): LOCKWOOD AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.

(formerly known as OGDEN INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD.) EDWARD STREET, HUNTINGDALE, VICTORIA 3166,

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor(s): Donald John NEWMAN Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPAT'RICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "SECURITY DEVICE" Our Ref: IRN 314111 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 1 SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to doors, windows and other movable members, and is concerned with the manner in which such members are secured against unauthorised or improper movement. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with particular reference to sliding windows and doors, but the invention is not limited to those example applications.

Sliding doors and windows are generally of rectangular shape and are arranged to open and close a space or opening of similar size and shape. The space or opening is exposed by sliding the door or window to one side, and a suitable track system is provided for nat purpose. In many cases, the arrangement is such that the sliding section of the door or window can be removed from the track system by lifting that section through a suitable distance. Such removal may be necessary or desirable to permit maintenance of the door or window.

The lock means for sliding doors and windows is usually arranged at the front of the sliding section, and when operative is effective to either prevent lifting of the front edge of that section or render such lifting ineffective to permit removal of the sliding section from S 25 the track system. The locking means does not however impose an influence on the rear edge of the sliding section. At least any influence which is present is usually ineffective to prevent that edge being lifted clear, or substantially clear, of the track system. In the event of such lifting of the rear edge it is possible that part of the sliding section can be completely removed from the track system so as to expose the opening or space which the sliding section was intended to protect.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a security device which overcomes or at least minimises the aforementioned problem.

A device according to the invention is characterised in that it is composed of two principle parts which are 39 movable relative to one another and which are cooperable 2 in such a way as to provide an adjustable abutment. In particular, the abutment formed by the two parts has an effective depth or height which can be varied to suit particular circumstances, and that variation is achieved by changing the relative positions of the two parts.

In a preferred arrangement, at least one of the two parts has a series of stop faces which have a different elevation relative to a base of that part. The effective depth or height of the abutment is determined by selecting a particular one of the stop faces for engagement by the other part. Both parts may have a respective series of such faces, and the arrangement may be such that the abutment has a different effective height or depth according to the rotational position of one part relative to the other.

It is further preferred that each of the two parts be of substantially cylindrical form and that one of the two parts includes a cylindrical bore within which the S"other of the two parts may be located for relative S 20 rotation.

In order to assist in arriving at an understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the attached drawings. However, it should S" be understood that the following description is illustrative only and should not be taken in any way as a restriction on the generality of the invention as described above. The following detailed description will refer to use of the invention with a sliding window, but as previously stated the invention is not limited to that particular use.

Figures 1 and 2 show an example sliding window arrangement to which the invention can be applied.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line IV IV of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a simple arrangement of a sliding window section 1 and a stationary window section 2. The 39 top, bottom and sides of the structure which forms the 3 window surround are shown with cross-hatching. The sliding window section 1 is slidable to open and close a window opening which is designated generally by the numeral 3 (Figure Atta-hed to the top and bottom sides of the window opening 3, are tracks 4 on which the window section 1 may slide. As with normal sliding window arrangements of the kind shown in Figure 1, the sliding window section 1 is configured to slide in front of, or alternatively, behind the stationary window section 2, thereby requiring that the sliding plane of the window section 1 be laterally displaced from the stationary plane of the window section 2.

Figure 2 shows the sliding window arrangement of Figure 1, in which the sliding window section 1 is fully slid into position behind the stationary window section 2, thereby exposing the window opening 3.

.In both Figures 1 and 2, a lock 5 is shown located in the bottom left hand corner of the window section 1, although this lock may be located elsewhere on the frame of the sliding window section 1 as is convenient. The lock 5 is located so as to be engageable with a suitable member either on the structure which forms the window surround, or in the track 4, to thereby secure the sliding window section 1 against sliding movement. The cooperation between the lock 5 and the member with which it engages, is preferably such as to prevent lifting of the front edge 6 of the window section 1 oif, or out of the track 4. However, as previously explained, the lock has little or no influence on the rear edge 7 of the window section 1, which can be lifted to enable improper access through the window to be achieved.

In order to guard against the problem referred to, the present invention provides a security device 8 which can be inserted between the track 4 and the window section 1, at any suitable point, preferably at the location indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The security device 8 operates to take up or reluce any gap between the upper surface of the window section 1 and the track 4 so as to 39 prevent or minimise pivotal movement of the window section 4 1 about an axis formed by cooperation between the lock and the member with wiCh it engages when operative. Use of the security device 8 thereby prevents, or at least hinders, removal of the window section 1 from the track 4 to allow unauthorised access through the window opening 3.

The device 8 may take any suitable form and may be attached in any convenient manner to the window section 1, or to the structure which forms the window surround, or to the track 4. In any such case, the arrangement is such that the device 8 is located adjacent the rear edge 7 of the window section 1 when that section is located in the closed position of Figure i. In some forms of the device 8, it may be concealed within the track 4 such that it is not generally visible, for example as shown by Figure 4.

An example form of the device 8 is shown in Figure 3. That particular device 8 comFrises an upper part and a lower part 11. Each of the parts 10 and 11 is generally of cylindrical form, and the part 11 has a cylindrical bore 12 within which the part 10 is to be 20 located for relative rotation. This configuration, while preferable, is not however essential and the two parts may bc otherwise shaped.

The two parts 10 and 11 are cooperable so as to have an effective height as shown in Figure 4, and are 25 relatively moveable so as to permit adjustment of that height to suit particular circumstances. The variation in height i .rises out of the fact that at each position of relative adjustment of the parts 10 and 11, they cooperate in a different manner. That cooperation is preferably as follows, but other arrangements could be adopted.

In the preferred arrangement shown, the change in height is affected through a series of cooperable abutments which are spaced apart in the direction of height The height varies according to which of the abutments is selected as the operative abutment. In the embodiment hereinafter described, each of the parts and 11, includes a series of abutments, but it would be 39 satisfactory to only provide one of the parts with such a 5 series.

Preferably, the series of abutments of each of the parts 10 and 11 comprises three groups of stop faces, 13 and 14 respectively, but that number of groups is not essential. As will be seen from Figure 3, the stop faces of each group 13 are substantially flat faces which are spaced apart in the axial direction of the part 10. In the embodiment shown, there are four faces 15 in each group 13, but that number may vary according to requirements.

Each group 14 of the part 11 has a number of stop faces 16 which are arranged in the same manner as the faces 15 of the part 10. The number of faces 16 in each group 14 may be the same or different to the number of faces 15 in each group 13. Each group of faces 15 and 16 in effect forms a series of steps arranged along a curved SQ""path, and in the arrangement shown the curved path of each such series has substantially the same radius.

S" As will be seen from Figure 3, the stop faces 15 are S 20 formed on an outside cylindrical surface of the part whereas they are formed on an inside cylindrical surface of the part 11. The arrangement is such that a face 15 of each group 13 engages a face 16 of a respective one of the groups 14, when the part 10 is inserted into the bore 12 25 of the part 11. The relative rotation of those parts and 11 will determine which of the faces 15 engages with which of the faces 16, and consequently determines the effective height of the resulting assembly.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding window section 1 of Figure 1, incorporating a device 8 according to the invention. The window section 1 comprises a glass pane 17 contained between upper and lower frame members 18 and 19. The lower frame member 19 is configured to slide within the bottom track 4, which in turn is fixed to the structure forming the window opening 3. The upper frame member 18 is configured to slide within the top track 4, and the clearance between the member 18 and the upper track 4 will normally be greater 39 than that between the member 19 and the bottom track 4 so 6

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as to allow removal of the window section 1.

The device generally indicated at 8, comprises the two parts 10 and 11 and may be secured in position by any suitable fastening means such as a fastening screw The two parts 10 and 11 are preferably constructed as shown in Figure 3, and in the Figure 4 arrangement the part 10 is inserted within the part 11. The head of the fastening screw 20 is located within a counterbore 21 (Figure 3) of the part 10, and that head or a washer underlying that head, engages against an opposed surface 22 at the end of the counterbore 21. In order to adjust the height of the device 8, the fastening screw 20 is released to the extent necessary to allow rotation of the part 10 relative to the part 11. Having selected the desired setting, the fastening screw 20 is tightened to the extent necessary to secure the part 10 in its relative S" position to the part 11 thereby placing the device 8 in a condition ready for use. Other types of fastening means may be possible and these are within the scope of the present invention.

The device 8 is thereby adjustable to take up or rz duce any gap between the upper surface of the window section 1 and the track 4, to prevent movement of the window section 1 such as to disturb the security of the window.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be many variations and modifications of the configuration described herein which are within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (11)

1. A door or window security device for location in a space between opposed surfaces of a member and a door or window which is movable relative to that me said device including two parts which are movable relative to one another to vary an effective dimension of said device, said effective dimension being the distance between two oppositely facing bearing surfaces each of which is a surface of a respective one of said parts, a first one of said parts including a plurality of stop faces and a second one of said parts including at least one stop face which is engageable with any one of the stop faces of said first part, said first part stop faces being spaced apart in a direction away from said bearing surface of said first part such that said effective dimension varies according to which of those stop faces is engaged by said second part stop face, and said relative movement of the parts enables 15 said second part stop face to be moved into engagement with a selected one of the first part stop faces, wherein in use said effective dimension is selected to be less than said space and each of said bearing surfaces is engageable with a respective one of said opposed surfaces so as to thereby limit the distance through which said opposed surfaces can be moved towards one another. a 20 2. A security device according to claim 1, wherein said first part stop faces are spaced apart in the direction of said effective dimension.

3. A security device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each said part has a plurality of said stop faces.

4. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein said first part has a cylindrical bore and said second part is located within said bore as to be movable relative to said first part in the direction of the axis of said bore and to be also rotatable relative to said first part about the axis of said bore). A security device according to claim 4, wherein at least one said stop face of said first part is formed in the cylindrical surface of said bore.

6. A security device according to claim 5, wherein said second part has a generally cylindrical outer surface, and at least one said stop face of said second part is formed in said outer surface. Ri IVT Oz -Q IL)~ ?Nro -9-

7. A security device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a change in said effective dimension involves both relative rotation and relative axial movement of said two parts.

8. A security device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, when appended to claim 3, wherein each said part has at least two groups of said stop faces, and the said groups of each said part are spaced apart circumferentially around said axis.

9. A security device according to any preceding claim, including fastening means which is operative to releasably hold ,aid parts in a selected position relative to one another. A security device according to claim 9, wherein said fastening means includes a fastening screw.

11. A security device according to claim 10, wherein said fastening screw includes a head which is arranged to locate within a counterbore of one of said 15 parts for fastening said parts against relative movement.

12. A security device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein said fastening means also functions to secure said device to said door or window or to said member.

13. An assembly including a door or window, a member in respect of which 20 said door or window is relatively movable, a space between opposed surfaces of said door or window and said member respectively, and a device according to any one of' claims I to 12 disposed within said space, said device being secured to said door or window or to said member and being operable to limit the extent to which said opposed surfaces can move towards one another across said space.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said device is secured to one said opposed surface and projects from that opposed surface towards the other said opposed surface, and said door or window is slidable relative to said member in a direction extending transverse to the direction of said projection. I- s al~m~ A security device substantially as herein particularly described with reference to what is shown by the accompanying drawings. DATED: 6 March, 1997 PHILLIPS, ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: LOCKWOOD AUSTRALIA PTY LTD e IIIP-b IPI ABSTRACT "SECURITY DEVICE" A security device for location in a space between two relatively movable members so as to thereby limit the extent of said relative movement across said space. The device includes two principle parts (10,11) which are movable relative to one another so as to thereby vary an effective dimension of the device The parts (10,11) are cooperable at each of a plurality of relative positions so as to thereby retain the parts (10,11) in the respective said relative position. Each relative position corresponds to a respective effective dimension and a relative position may be selected according to the size of the space. o 39 11 LM