GB2224306A

GB2224306A - Security device

Info

Publication number: GB2224306A
Application number: GB8923804A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Eric Little
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-26
Filing date: 1989-10-23
Publication date: 1990-05-02
Also published as: GB8923804D0; GB8825051D0

Abstract

A security device is described which is suitable for use for example on a sliding shutter arrangement for securing a window or door. The device comprises a body portion (20) mountable on a slat (4) of the movable shutter and which is slidable into engagement with a channel member (16) of the frame. A lockable retaining member (32) ensures that a bolt (36) can be locked in an extended position with respect to the device to prevent disengagement of the body portion (20) from the frame. The locking arrangement is set by means of a push member 38 which is provided with a C-shaped, frangible link member (40) engaging a groove (41) on the bolt (36). If force is used to release the security device, the link member (40) breaks off, leaving the bolt held firmly in place by the retaining member (32). <IMAGE>

Description

SECURITY DEVICE The invention is concerned with security devices suitable for use in association with closure means, particularly, but not exclusively, closure means of the type in which there is relative sliding movement between two component parts.

Security devices for securely closing window and door openings may comprise hinged closure members or, alternatively, sliding members in the form for example of metal shutters or blinds comprising interconnected struts, bars or slats. Shutters of this type are usually operated in guideways or channels set in door or window surrounds.

However, it is necessary not only to provide shutters of material capable of preventing access to protected premises by vandals, but also equipping the shutters with locking means which are not readily capable of being forced or otherwise released by unauthorised persons.

The invention provides a security device for securing together two security members, a first one of said security members comprising a movable closure member and a second one of said security members comprising a fixed member, said first member being mounted for sliding movement with respect to said second member when in an unsecured condition, said device comprising a main body portion having two engagement portions, a first engagement portion being engageable with the first security member and the second engagement portion being engageable with the fixed member, there being provided a bolt means adapted to be moved between a retracted, inoperative position and an extended, operative position in which it engages one of said security members to prevent said sliding movement between said security members, a lock means adapted to lock said bolt in its operative position and an operating means adapted to move the bolt between the inoperative and the operative position, there being provided between the bolt means and the operating means a frangible link means adapted to shear when attempts are made to release the security device other than by correct operation of the lock means.

Conveniently, said frangible link means may comprise a projection extending from the operating member and engaging the bolt or vice versa.

Where the operating means is a member arranged to operate in a linear path parallel to the lengthwise axis of the bolt, the frangible link may comprise a projection extending radially from, for example, the operating means.

In an example of a device according to the invention, the bolt may be provided thereof with two grooves or recesses spaced lengthwise with respect to the bolt, a first groove being engageable by a retaining member releasable by operation of said lock means and a second groove engaged by said frangible link means extending from the operating member. The operating means may be in the form of a depressible button or pin.

Advantageously, the retaining member may be springbiased into engagement with the bolt and the operating button or pin may be arranged to adopt an unlocked position by means of a return spring.

Conveniently, said first security member may be a shutter, for example, composed of a panel or of interconnected metal slats or bars, and the second security member may be a fixed frame arrangement comprising a channel device adapted slidingly to receive the panel or end portions of the slats. The direction of the sliding movement may be heightwise or widthwise of the door or window opening.

There will be described an example of a security device according to the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a metal shutter adapted for use with a device of the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a device according to the invention; Figs. 3 and 4 are side and underneath plan views respectively of the device, with cover plate removed; Fig. 5 shows a cover plate; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an operating member with frangible link; Fig. 7 shows an underneath plan view of a lock cylinder; and Fig. 8 shows a bolt retaining member.

The closure member 2 illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed metal slats 4, end portions of which are received in a channel member 6 comprising a fixed security member.

A slot 8 is formed in the channel member in one side of the U-shape profile thereof. In the slat 4 positioned at the same level as the slot are provided an elongate aperture 10 and a circular aperture 12. The aperture 10 has an enlarged end portion 14. A similarly apertured keeper plate 16 is secured to the reverse of the slat, the aperture corresponding to the aperture 10 having chamfered margins 18 around the enlarged end portion.

A security device for attachment to the apertured slat 4 comprises a main body portion 20, having a nose portion 22 including a pair of grooves 24 defining a wall 26. A headed pin 28 projects from an underneath surface of the body portion 20 and is adapted to be received in the enlarged end portion of the elongate aperture 10 of the slat 4 and to side along the length of the aperture so that, as it does so, the wall 26 is received in the slot 8 of the channel member 6.

The security device is provided with a cylinder lock arrangement, indicated at 30 and to be described in detail below.

The lock is operable to release a retaining member 32 which in the operative position engages a groove 34 of a bolt 36 when the latter is in an extended position as shown in Fig. 2. The bolt 36 is moved into the extended, operative position by the depression of a push member 38.

The member 38 is connected with the bolt 36 through a link means 40 received in a groove 41 in the bolt 36 to be described below, so that on depression of the member 38, the bolt 36 extends through the aperture 12 of the slat 4 and prevents the security device being moved with respect to the channel member 6. Release of the bolt 36 by the lock arrangement will permit the headed pin 28 to slide in the slot 10 away from the channel member 6. The shutter member comprised by the slats 4 may then be opened up by a sliding movement relative to the channel member 6.

The construction of the bolt 36, member 38 and link means 40 will now be explained. When the security device is in place, an attempt to gain unauthorised access to premises using the closure member 2 usually entails force being applied to the member 38 since this is the obvious means of setting the device into an operative condition.

Indeed, it may appear to the casual observer that the member 38 may be the outer end of the bolt itself.

The generally C-shaped link means 40 is secured to the member 38 by welding strong enough for normal operation but designed to shear under excessive force. When the link 40 is sheared, the member 39 will then project from the body portion 20 through an aperture 45 in a cover member 46 the influence of a compression spring 42 supported by a pin indicated at 44 and held in place by the cover member 46 which is secured to the lower surface of the body portion. However, the bolt 36 will remain securely in place in its extended position in which it is held, as mentioned above, by the retaining member 32.

Since the bolt is provided with a hard steel pin 37 passing through it in a lengthwise direction, it is practically impossible to cut it through.

The retaining member 32 comprises a plate having a leading edge portion adapted to be received in the groove 34 of the bolt 36 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. At a trailing (left-hand) end of the plate there is provided a spring 48 which urges the plate rightwards, as viewed in the Figs, into the engaging position. The plate 32 is provided with an aperture 50 which is contoured to provide two diametrically opposed recesses 52, each defining a shoulder 54. Spanning the recesses 52 is a bar 56 set into the cylinder block 58 of the cylinder lock arrangement 30 so as to be turned pivotally when the key (not shown) is caused to operate the lock.

As may be seen in Fig. 8, pivotal turning of the bar 56 causes an end portion thereof to abut the shoulder 54 and to force the plate to the left against the spring 48.

The leading edge of the plate 32 is thus withdrawn from the groove 34, the spring 42 then causing the member 38 and bolt 36 to move upwardly as viewed in Fig. 3 to release the security device.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A security device for securing together two security members, a first one of said security members comprising a movable closure member and a second one of said security members comprising a fixed member, said first member being mounted for sliding movement with respect to said second member when in an unsecured condition, said device comprising a main body portion having two engagement portions, a first engagement portion being engageable with the first security member and the second engagement portion being engageable with the fixed member, there being provided a bolt means adapted to be moved between a retracted, inoperative position and an extended, operative position in which it engages one of said security members to prevent said sliding movement between said security members, a lock means adapted to lock said bolt in its operative position and an operating means adapted to move the bolt between the inoperative and the operative position, there being provided between the bolt means and the operating means a frangible link means adapted to shear when attempts are made to release the security device other than by correct operation of the lock means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frangible link means comprises a projection extending between the operating means and the bolt means, said projection being mounted upon one of said means to engage with the other.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operating means is a member arranged to operate in a linear path parallel to a lengthwise axis of the bolt means, and the frangible link means comprises a projection extending radially from the operating member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bolt means comprises a bolt rod having a groove or recess therein, said projection extending radially from the operating member to engage said groove or recess.

5. A device as claimed in either one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the bolt means comprises a bolt member having a groove or recess thereon, there being further provided a retaining member engageable with said groove bolt member when in its operative position.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, so far as it is dependent on claim 4, wherein the bolt member is provided with two said grooves or recesses, the groove or recess engageable by the projection being spaced lengthwise on the bolt member from the groove or recess engageable by the retaining member.

7. A device as claimed in either one of claims 5 and 6, wherein said retaining member is spring biased into engagement with the bolt member.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating member comprises an operating button or pin which is biased by a spring towards an unlocked position.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with two securing members, wherein the first one of said security members is adapted to be slidable relative to the second member edge portions of said first member being received in a channel member comprised by said second member.

iO. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first security member is, in use, slidable heightwise with respect to the second member.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first, movable security member is provided with a bolt-receiving aperture and a slot into which is slidable received a head of a pin member provided upon a base portion of said device and the device is provided with a housing having a nose portion, the construction and arrangement being such that the device is adapted to slide in said slot into a position in which the nose portion firmly engages the second security member, a return sliding movement of the device in said slot being preventable by locked engagement of said bolt member in said aperture.

12. A security device for securing together two security members constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.