GB2098271A - Locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking device 10 for doors or windows has a base plate 12 for mounting on a frame 13 and a stop plate 11 hinged to the base plate 12 and axially displaceable between a free position at which the stop plate can be pivoted and a locked position at which the latter is held against angular movement, so that the stop plate can be swung to overlie a door or window and then prevent opening of the door or window by retention in the locked position. The base plate 12 has T-shaped tongues 14 which engage slots 20 in the stop plate 11. Alternatively, the two plates have interengaging formations linked by a hinge-pin. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fastening device This invention relates to fastening devices for such constructions as door or window assemblies, cupboards, drawers, hatches, or other assemblies in which a first part of the assembly is selectively movable relative to a second part, e.g. a hinged or sliding door or window casement or sash relative to a frame, the fastening device being selectively operable to prevent said movement, usually from a closed position.

Many types of fastening device for this purpose are known, for example sliding bolts including rim or mortice locks; hasp and staple arrangements; and pivoted latches, hooks or catches. Practically all known devices require the mounting or forming of co-acting formations on each of the relatively movable parts of the assembly in sufficiently accurate alignment for the device to operate. The initial mounting usually has to be carefully carried out and any subsequent misalignment, e.g. due to swelling, warping, shrinkage or the dropping of a door or window casement, will lead to need for adjustment or re-mounting, a process which may have to be subsequently repeated and which may well result in damage or disfigurement to visible surfaces.

The object of the invention is to provide a particularly simple and economical fastening device suitable for a wide range of applications, which can be mounted without special skills or need for accurate work, and which is substantially unaffected by subsequent misalignment of the relatively movable parts.

The invention provides a fastening device for an assembly having relatively movable first and second parts including a base formation for attachment to the first of said parts and a stop formation pivoted to the base formation fqr angular movement relative thereto, said stop formation also being selectively displaceable relative to the base formation in a direction along the axis of said pivoting between a free position at which the stop formation can be swung through a substantial angle and a locked position at which inter-engaging abutments on said formations prevent said angular movement whereby, with the device operatively mounted on said first part so that the stop formation is brought into overlying relationship with the second part of the assembly at the locked position, relative movement of the assembly parts is prevented or restricted.

Preferably the base and stop formations are plates of metal or plastics connected by a hinge joint at adjacent edges, the locking being provided by interengageable projections, teeth, notches or slots in end faces of hinge knuckles of the formations.

The pivot may include a hinge pin received in generally cylindrical knuckles of the two formations; or conveniently for ease of manufacture and greater economy, the pivot may be formed as laterally projecting tongues of one member which are curved to permit the pivoting action and received in longitudinal slots of an edge portion of the other member, said tongues having projections serving to lock the formations at one or more predetermined angular positions by axial displacement of one relative to the other.

One practical embodiment of the invention is now described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing being a perspective view of a fastening device.

The device is in two parts, each being a sheet metal pressing, a base formation 10 and a stop formation 11.

The base formation has a rectangular planar mounting portion 12 which may be provided with holes to receive screws or other fasteners for its attachment to, for example, the jamb of a door frame as shown by broken line at 13.

Three integral tongues 1 4 project from one longitudinal edge of formation 10 and are curved so that their distal ends lie in a common plane generally normal to the plane of mounting portion 12.

These distal ends are T-shaped and each tongue also includes a pair of oppositely directed intermediate lugs 1 5 as projections of its side edges so as to define an inner and an outer set of notches 16, 1 7 in each said side edge.

The stop formation 11 is somewhat smaller in area than formation 10 and comprises a planar flat portion 18 and an edge region 1 9 which is bent generally at right angles to portion 18, there being three longitudinally aligned rectangular slots 20 at the bend.

Slots 20 receive the three tongues 14, the distal headed part of the latter being sized to be force fitted through the slots so that the two formations are captive with each other and the formations are assembled so that the tongues and the edge region 1 9 curve in opposite directions.

The pairs of intermediate lugs 1 5 on each tongue 14 will pass freely through slots 20 when the two formations are aligned to centre the tongues in said slots and at this free position the flat portion 1 8 can be swung between a first position at which its face will abut or overlie an outer face of a door or the like (indicated by broken lines at 21 on the drawing), and a second position at which it is swung clear of the door to permit opening and closing of the latter.

Displacement of formation 11 axially in either direction from this free position will cause the ends of its slots 20 to enter the notches in the sides of tongues 14 so locating it at either of two predetermined angular locked positions; when engaged with the outer notches 1 7 formation 11 will be held at a locked position which will prevent opening of the door, while with the slots 20 engaged with the inner notches 16, formation 11 is held clear to permit the door to open.

It will be seen that, for mounting as shown in this example, nothing has to be attached to or done to the door 21. The operation of the device is unaffected by most misalignments which might occur to the door and/or frame after installation.

The device gives a particularly secure fastening as the force needed to burst the door open would be considerable and it is to be noted that the force will act on the screws or other fasteners of base formation 10 at right angles to their direction of insertion, moreover the screws or other fastenings are not accessible or visible when the door is closed.

The device is neat in appearance, the visible faces of the door and frame are not affected and it can be removed, if required, without leaving visible traces.

If mounted vertically formation 11 will drop automatically into one or other of the locked positions by gravity, however if applied in a location where the axial movement will be horizontal a spring or other resilient loading could be readily incorporated to urge it to the locked position.

For added security a key operated lock can be readily added or incorporated, the simplest form being a staple which would pass through a slot in the flat portion 18 to receive a padlock as with a conventional hasp and staple.

The device can be applied to a wide variety of assemblies including drawers, hinged casement windows, sliding sash windows, and sliding or hinged doors, lids or hatches of all kinds. It may be provided in a child-proof version for safety fastenings for windows, cot sides and the like.

Claims (11)

1. A fastening device for an assembly having relatively movable first and second parts including a base formation for attachment to the first of said parts and a stop formation pivoted to the base formation for angular movement relative thereto, said stop formation also being selectively displaceable relative to the base formation in a direction along the axis of said pivoting between a free position at which the stop formation can be swung through a substantial angle and a locked position at which inter-engaging abutments on said formations prevent said angular movement whereby, with the device operatively mounted on said first part so that the stop formation is brought into overlying relationship with the second part of the assembly at the locked position, relative movement of the assembly parts is prevented or restricted.

2. A device as in Claim 1 wherein said interengaging abutments are arranged to positively locate the stop formation at the free position as well as at the locked position.

3. A device as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the base and stop formations are plates having hinged connection between adjacent edge portions.

4. A device as in Claim 3 wherein said hinged connection includes a hinge pin received in generally cylindrical knuckles of said edge portions.

5. A device as in Claim 4 wherein said interengaging abutments include co-acting projections and notches on or in end faces of said knuckles.

6. A device as in Claim 3 wherein said hinged connection is constituted by laterally projecting tongues of one edge portion which are curved to permit the pivoting action and are received in slots of the other edge portion.

7. A device as in Claim 6 wherein the interengaging abutments include lateral projections or notches of the tongues which co-act with the ends of the slots.

8. A device as in any preceding claim wherein the inter-engaging abutments are arranged to coact on movement of the stop formation in either direction along said axis from a median position.

9. A device as in any one preceding claim including resilient means urging the stop formation to the locked position.

10. A device as in any preceding claim wherein a major planar portion of the stop formation is held at right angles to a major planar portion of the base formation at said locked position to operatively overlie the second part of the assembly.

11. A fastening device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.