AU744426B2

AU744426B2 - Improvements to door security

Info

Publication number: AU744426B2
Application number: AU79934/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Arthur Cook
Original assignee: Bacoz Developments Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Bacoz Developments Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-08-13
Filing date: 1998-08-13
Publication date: 2002-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-13
Also published as: AU7993498A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Applicant: BACOZ DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD Invention Title: Actual inventor: Improvements to Door Security Brian Arthur Cook Address for service: Bacoz Developments Pty Ltd PO Box 207, North Shore 3214 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to the applicant(s): Pae 1 This invention relates to at least one member which, when installed to a door, provides additional security for a door lock or latch.

Application of the at least one member is to obstruct access to a latch and/or lock bolt and/or other door fastening and/or securing mechanism or device in the area surrounding the mechanism or device and the area of its engagement with an adjacent door frame or door leaf Door fastening and securing mechanisms and devices may comprise principally mechanical components or principally electrical and electronic components or be a hybrid electromechanical device or mechanism. Application of the at least one member is similar in each of these cases.

In its broadest form the invention is a device mountable adjacent to a lock, latch or similar securing mechanism located at or near an edge of a door, window, gate, hatch, cover or other wing like closure means is a component, an assembly or a set or a series of components and/or assemblies including at least one member and in a three axis coordinate system where it is convenient to designate the axes as vertical, horizontal and longitudinal respectively, the edge extends in a vertical direction, the locking or latching bolt of the securing mechanism extends in a horizontal direction and at least a portion of the at least one member is disposed at a suitable distance above or below the locking bolt in a vertical direction and extends sufficiently across the edge in a longitudinal direction and beyond the edge in a horizontal direction to at least impede access to the locking bolt when an approach is made toward it from a respective vertical direction; wherein, the member is located between a portion of the edge and a corresponding portion of ajamb, locking post or the like forming some part of the opening that is closed when the door is locked or fastened by the securing mechanism.

S" The mounting location of the at least one member would generally be situated so as to S"obstruct access to a latch and/or lock bolt and/or other door fastening and/or securing mechanism by at least partially obsiructing the space or gap between an edge of a door and an corresponding jamb and/or frame and/or adjacent door and/or mullion or like meeting edge adjacent to that edge of the door; the at least one member thereby forming at least in part a barrier for impeding access to at least a portion of that space Page 2 or gap.

In some preferred forms of the present invention more than one member according to the invention may be mounted adjacent to an edge of a door, the number and disposition of the members being at the discretion of the users of the present invention and the person(s) installing the device. Similarly, more than one device may be mounted to a door or adjacent to one edge of a door. While a common application for a device is to protect a door lock or latch, a device may be mounted adjacent any part of the perimeter of a door, to protect electrical cabling passing from the frame to the door, for example. The majority of doors have four edges comprising their perimeter.

However, there are doors and other wing like structures which have more or less than four edges and some doors which have a generally circular perimeter and it is to be understood that the application and functionality of the invention is also applicable in these cases.

There exists a range of plates for installation to the leading edge of a door in proximity to the position to the door lock or latch and, in particular, in proximity to the position of the latch or lock bolt to improve the security of the locking of the door. The Sintention being in fitment of a plate of this type is that it overlaps the door edge and the latch or lock bolt to an extent which will afford some additional protection to the latch or lock bolt in precluding access to the operating clearance between the door edge and S the doorjamb or frame. Thereby reducing the opportunity for persons to attack and/or manipulate the latch or lock bolt. In turn, increasing the security of the door lock or latch by making it more difficult, if not impracticable, to pressure the latch or lock bolt into the lock without the use of the proper key.

Such plates, commonly known as "blocker plates", may be made of a variety of materials including steel and stainless steel, and the material formed and/or drawn to form cranks, recesses, bends, folds and the like to improve the rigidity of the finished product and accommodate variations between the adjoining surfaces of the door and frame or the lip of the strike plate associated with the latch or lock bolt, for example.

In effect, such plates (while not extending to the full height of the door) perform a function not dissimilar to that of an astragal which generally extends for the full height Page 3 of the door and might comprise any of a variety of forms including a length of wood, brass or steel beading, a length of section aluminium or brass. Except that the intention of a blocker plate is not decorative or for the provision of some degree of weather proofing to the door, but to improve the security of the lock by restricting access to the edge of a door adjacent to a lock latch or other door fastening device.

Plates of this kind are generally mounted onto the external face of the door and fixing is usually achieved by metal thread screws or bolts passing through the thickness of the door, although fixing can also be achieved using self tapping screws or wood screws.

The general advantage of blocker plates is that they are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install, do not suffer the maintenance problems associated with a full length astragal and may be manufactured from materials more suited to their purpose both in terms of structural strength and durability as security products, rather than as V weather or draft proofing.

A device according to the present invention need not be used in conjunction with the blocker plates or astragals referred to above, however, there are advantages to be derived from a combination of a device according to the present invention with a door plate installed onto the external face of the door which blocks access to the at least one member as well as the latch or lock bolt or reed switch or other door fastening and/or securing device or mechanism. Alternatively, a device of itself can form a part or a Swhole ofa plate with a function not dissimilar to that ofa blocker plate or astragal.

OoO The present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms, resulting in plates, flanges, pins, wires, flexible seals or tubes, discs and rollers, for example, each providing an obstruction to access to the space or gap between an edge of a door or other wing like structure and the adjacent meeting edge of a door, frame, jamb, closet, cupboard, locker, cabinet, trunk, or other part of a building structure or container suitable for habitation and/or storage.

Depending upon the form of the at least one member according to the invention, installation may be to the edge of the door or to the adjacent frame, for example. The size of a device may be varied according to the size of the structure to which installation is required. For example, a suitable device for a trophy cabinet would very Page 4 likely be inappropriate for installation to standard pedestrian door, and vice versa. A device may be manufactured from a wide variety of materials or combination of materials, including steel, stainless steel and plastics which may be formed, cast, machined, pressed, folded or worked by any other suitable manufacturing process to achieve the desired resultant product.

In general, the at least one member may be considered to comprise relatively simple components and assemblies. This is so because the improvements in security achieved by items ancillary to the installation of a locking device are usually only considered to be cost effective if they can be supplied and installed with relatively minor expense.

However, in some circumstances it may be preferred that one or more devices corresponding to different embodiments according to the invention are installed.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, the description is now directed to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of an at least one member according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the at least one member shown in Figure 1 mounted to a plate like base; Figure 3 is an isometric view of the assembly shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the general arrangement of parts of a device according to the present invention installed to the edge of a door in a closed position; Figure 5 is an isometric view of a device according to the present invention comprising of two discs; Figure 6 is an isometric view a device according to the present invention comprising of two wire coils.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a device according to the present invention comprising of a single component of which two at least one members form an integral part.

A component forming the at least one member in accordance with the present invention may be in the form of a plate formed from sheet material as shown in Figures 1 to 4.

The thickness of the material forming the plate is not critical, but it is preferable that it is of a gauge that will not jam between the leading edge of the door and any adjacent Page structure. However, even if this should occur, a rebate of a few millimetres sufficient to accommodate the thickness of such a plate would readily solve the problem.

The plate shown in Figure 1 has three basic functional areas being the main body of the component; a point for attachment of the component to another component or device; and a flap of material bent at an angle to the main body of the component. While it is not shown in the main body provision for fixing the component to the edge of a door may be made in the main body, for example, by a countersunk hole to accept a wood screw or self tapping screw. The area is shown as minor in relation to the main body of the component, but this ratio in regard to size is not essential. If the area is extended in size then the enlarged size of(B) would in effect act as a blocking plate. The area may be formed into a cylindrical shape, or any other suitable shape, to perform a similar blocking function. The angle at which is disposed in relation to the main body may vary according to the requirements of each individual application. Similarly, the angle of disposition of flap in relation to and the size of flap may vary as required. The function of flap in this embodiment of the present invention is that its angular displacement in relation with may be varied after it has been installed onto a door. The greater the angle formed between and the lesser the overall dimension of the the component. As the angle between and is decreased, so the overall dimension of the component must increase. Whereby, a standard component can be made adjustable S to a wide variety of gaps between door edges and frames, for example, and also be adjustable to allow operating clearance for the door while achieving a close proximity to the frame when a door is closed thereby effectively prohibiting passage of a wire or other tool past the plate. Figure 1 shows the component as having plain edges and square corners, however, indentations, bights, protrusions, projections and other suitable formations may be included in a component in accordance with this first embodiment. For example, a serrated upper edge to flap would further complicate and frustrate an attempt to have a wire bypass the component.

Figure 2 shows in a schematic view how the component shown in Figure 1 may be associated with a larger plate attachment being by spot welding, for example.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the same plate with the component attached to it. A Page 6 plate 1 is shown with a crank 4 formed in it which approximates the angled deflection of the flap B of the at least one member A, such that the attachment of at least one member A to plate 1 can be more readily accommodated. Plate 1 also contains a raised portion 2 which forms a corresponding recess on the underside of that part of the plate intended to accommodate the protruding part of the lip of a striker plate (not shown).

The plain portion 3 of plate 1 may have penetrations through it or fasteners attached to it whereby plate I is attached to a door. The location of plate 1 is in part dictated by the positioning of the at least one member A which would preferably be fastened to an edge of a door. The at least one member A might be installed as a separate component along with plate 1 or installed some time after the installation of plate 1 (in which case flap B may be omitted), but the additional strength and security derived from the attachment of the at least one member A to plate 1 would be lost.

Figure 4 is schematic view of the relationship between plate 1, the at least one member S::1 A when installed with a latch bolt 8 installed in a door 5 adjacent a frame 6 which has had a striker plate 7 installed to it; and prior to the proper disposition of flap shown in Figure 3 to an angle which would obstruct the space shown between the door and the door frame. Components in accordance with this form may also be manufactured ooofrom a resilient material such as spring steel, so that flap may be disposed at a predetermined angle and be depressed by contact with the door frame, for example, the limit of its travel being determined by a right angle return at its lateral extremity.

Because the at least one member according to the invention is directed toward achieving greater security without affecting the normal operation of the door to which the resulting components are installed, the number of components installed in not self limiting. However, there would be practical limits in regard to the economy of installing such additional componentry when compared to the improvement in security achievable by purchasing and installing a lock with higher security specifications, and installing, for example, one rather than a series of components according to the invention.

A second form of the present invention is shown in Figure 5, two round discs 21 and 21a are shown to be mounted on pins 22 and 22a which may also be a screw, or bolt or other suitable elongate or spigot like component. The internal diameter of the discs Page 7 would preferably be greater than that required to just pass over the pins so that in effect the discs would be a loose fit on the pin. Similarly, the discs would also have end play so that each disc may rotate and cant on its respective pin. A pin and disc could be installed either onto the door edge or the door frame, above and below the level of the lock bolt and its strike plate, so that an attempt to bypass the lock with a wire or other tool would very probably contact the disc which would "wobble" so as to throw the wire to one side of the disc (where it would be trapped between the disc and the door or the frame, as the case may be) or the other side of the disc (where it would be trapped between the disc and the head of the pin). As would be readily understood, the discs 21 and 21a may be round or polygonal. Similarly, the aperture through them may be of constant diameter, elliptical, polygonal or of any other suitable configuration, and any be generally concentric to their perimeter or epicentric to some degree. The perimeter of each disc may be plain or serrated, notched or shaped in any other suitable manner. And the discs need not necessarily be flat, but may dished, grooved, rippled or formed in any other way. In fact, the greater the unpredictability in the reaction of the disc to contact with another body then the greater the advantage in using the at least one member according to the invention in this form.

Figure 6 shows a further form of the present invention in which the at least one member 0. :takes the form of conical springs 40 and 40a employed in place of the discs 21 and 21a shown in Figure 5. The springs would be relatively economical to manufacture and install and have an advantage in that being flexible their contact pressure with the corresponding door or frame (depending to which they had been installed) would be slight. When compared to the discs 21 and 21a, the conical springs 40 and 40a present a more complex aspect to a wire or tool with a greater probability of trapping the same within their coils, with less likelihood of successfully extracting the wire or tool preparatory to another attempt to bypass the lock. The springs 40 and 40a are shown installed with fasteners 41 and 41a which passed through an eye formed by the end of the wire forming each respective spring.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 7, a plate like device integrates two of the component shown in Figure 1 so that plate 70 may be manufactured from a single piece of sheet metal in one or two press operations, with Page 8 considerable cost savings, while offering similar opportunity to improve security. As shown, the parts 71 with fastening holes 72 and inclined flap 74 are disposed to one end of plate 70 and a similar configuration is shown at the other end of plate 70. It will be understood that it is not essential that the at least one member according to the invention, represented by those parts, need necessarily be disposed according to the illustration but may be located at any intermediate position along plate 70. Plate could be extended to form a full door height astragal, in which case the parts forming the at least one member would generally be more or less centrally located within plate Finally, it will be appreciated that there may be other variations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the configurations and constructions and arrangements of the parts described herein which are also within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

S S 5555 Page 9

Claims

1. A device mountable adjacent to a lock, latch or similar securing mechanism located at or near an edge of a door, window, gate, hatch, cover or other wing like closure means is a component, an assembly or a set or a series of components and/or assemblies including at least one member and in a three axis coordinate system where it is convenient to designate the axes as vertical, horizontal and longitudinal respectively, the edge extends in a vertical direction, the locking or latching bolt of the securing mechanism extends in a horizontal direction and at least a portion of the at least one member is disposed at a suitable distance above or below the locking bolt in a vertical direction and extends sufficiently across the edge in a longitudinal direction and beyond the edge in a horizontal direction to at least impede access to the locking bolt when an approach is made toward it from a respective vertical direction; wherein, the member is located between a portion of the edge and a corresponding portion of a jamb, locking post or the like forming some part of the opening that is closed when the door is locked or fastened by the securing mechanism.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes at least one member disposed in a first vertical direction and at least one member disposed in a second vertical direction that is substantially opposite to the first.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device includes at least two members disposed in the same vertical direction.

4. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 3 wherein, at least one member can be attached with fasteners to the edge.

5. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 4 wherein, the device can be mounted with fasteners to a door.

6. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 5 wherein, at least a portion of at least one member can be modified or altered by an operator, whereby its overall dimension at least in a horizontal direction can be selectively increased or decreased Page within a predetermined range.

7. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 6 wherein, a part of the device in addition to the at least a portion of the at least one member extends beyond the edge in a horizontal direction.

8. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 7 wherein, at least one member is a component or an assembly made from sheet metal.

9. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 8 wherein, at least one member is a component or an assembly made from a bar, a rod or a wire. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 9 wherein, the device includes a plate like base that extends in a horizontal direction and at least one member is mounted to the base and extends perpendicularly or obliquely from it in a longitudinal direction. 1. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 10 wherein, each at least one member is disposed at a distance from the locking bolt sufficiently to allow the removal of the whole or a part ofa securing mechanism from a door without necessitating the dismantling or removal of any part of the device.

12. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 11 wherein, at least one member is made from a resilient material. ooo.oi

13. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 12 wherein, a part or the whole of at least one member is a bias element or is acted upon by a bias element.

14. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 13 wherein, at least one member can interact with a strike or keeper plate into which the locking bolt is receivable. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 14 wherein, at least one member is at least partially accommodated within a recess or the like formed in the edge and/or a Page 11 recess, pocket or the like formed in a corresponding portion of an opening within which the edge is receivable.

16. A device according any of the claims 1 to 15 wherein, the device is mounted onto or with at least one mechanically and/or electrically operated device, assembly or mechanism.

17. A device according to any of the previous claims wherein, the device is installed in association with at least one mechanically and/or electrically operated device, assembly or mechanism.

18. A device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BACOZ DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD 21 DECEMBER 2001 Page 12