GB2266745A

GB2266745A - Lock keep

Info

Publication number: GB2266745A
Application number: GB9214550A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marek Glowacki; Artur Litwinski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-06
Filing date: 1992-07-08
Publication date: 1993-11-10
Also published as: PL294448A1; PL167133B1; GB9214550D0

Abstract

An improved lock keep is arranged to be securable using at least two fasteners (4, 4A), the fasteners being directed in at least two different, preferably orthogonal, directions. By arranging for the fasteners to enter a door frame (3) substantially mutually orthogonally, a stronger fixing is provided than in prior art arrangements. The keep may be of two part construction, comprising a U-shaped part (22) which is provided with the apertures (26) for the bolts, into the 'U' of which, fits a further part (14). The two parts are fastened together by screws (20) passing through holes in part (22) and screwing into tapped holes (23) in part (14). Both parts have orthogonal walls (6), (8) through which screws enter the door or door jamb. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED LOCK KEEP This invention relates to a lock keep and particularly, to a keep for use with a lock mechanism having at least one bolt.

In any application involving the locking of a door that uses a lock with a projecting bolt mechanism, the strength and security of the lock keep is as important as that of the lock itself. Clearly, regardless of how difficult it is to destroy or unlock the lock mechanism, the door is only secure whilst the bolt, or bolts are extended into and retained by the lock keep. Frequently when a locked door is opened by force, the failure point is the lock keep. As the door is forced, the keep is torn out of its fixings in the door frame.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock keep with improved security.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a lock keep for mounting on an edge of a door or door frame, has a pair of inwardly directed securing faces so orientated with respect to each other as to define an included angle, and at least one lock bolt-receiving aperture, each of the securing faces having at least one securing hole for receiving a respective fastener penetrating the door or door frame.

This arrangement ensures firstly, that the fasteners enter a door frame of grained material such as wood, in different directions in relation to the grain and secondly, that the material is cramped by the fasteners in combination with the securing faces of the keep. Both these effects greatly increase the strength of fixing and at least reduce the likelihood of the door frame splitting or otherwise deforming when an attempt is made to force a locked door.

The keep preferably comprises two parts which overlap to cover the securing hole or holes in at least one of the securing faces. This arrangement improves security by preventing tampering with fasteners housed in the covered holes. Preferably each part has a plate one side of which forms a respective one of the securing faces, the securing holes being formed in the plates. The bolt-receiving aperture or apertures are preferably formed in the overlapping part and they are preferably located substantially in a common plane with the holes in the overlapping part.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of fixing a lock keep comprises securing the keep using at least two fasteners which are directed in at least two different directions.

The method preferably includes a method for fixing a lock keep to a door frame, comprising: providing a lock keep with an inner part having a first securing face with at least one first securing hole for a fastener, and an outer part having a second securing face with at least one second securing hole for a fastener, the second part including a lock-bolt receiving aperture and a cover portion, fastening the inner part to the door frame with its securing face engaging a face of the door frame which is parallel to the door adjacent an edge of the frame using at least one fastener passing through the first securing hole or holes and penetrating the door frame, locating the outer part with its covering portion covering the inner part and its securing fasteners, and with the securing face of the second part engaging a face of the door frame which is perpendicular to the said parallel face of the door frame, and fastening the outer part to the frame using at least one fastener passing through the second securing hole or holes and penetrating the frame in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the fasteners securing the inner part, thereby retaining the outer part in an overlapping relationship with respect to the inner part by means of fasteners which are hidden when the door is closed in the frame.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a view of a lock keep in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 showing self-tapping screws inserted in countersunk holes; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lock keep in accordance with the invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second part in accordance with the invention.

Locking mechanisms for doors frequently have extending bolts. The bolts are usually extended by means of a rotary action transmitted from the user's hand via a key to a lock barrel. If an incorrect key is used, the barrel is prevented from turning and the bolt cannot be extended or retracted. The lock mechanism may be mounted either on a door or on a door frame. In each case, a corresponding lock keep will be mounted on the door frame or door respectively.

The lock keep commonly has a recess for the retention of the locking bolt. When the door is locked, and a bolt is extended into the recess, since either the lock mechanism or the keep are fixed to the frame which is stationary, the door is prevented from opening. The security of such an arrangement relies on the component fixed to the door frame remaining fixed. It is thus important to ensure that when a door is forced, the component fixed to the frame will not be torn away from the frame.

Referring to the drawings, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a lock keep is fixed to a door frame 3 and has a series of fixing screws 4 and 4A arranged to enter the door frame substantially mutually orthogonally.

Such an arrangement provides a significantly stronger fixing for the keep than in prior art arrangements. If the frame is made of a wooden or other grained material, by arranging for the screws to enter the frame orthogonally, the screws enter in different directions in relation to the grain thus reducing the likelihood of the material splitting. In addition, regardless of the material from which the frame is made, the orthogonal arrangement provides an effective cramping arrangement; as the screws are tightened, the material is cramped into the included angle or corner of the keep formed by faces 6 and 8. This also reduces the likelihood of the material splitting or otherwise deforming if an attempt is made to force the door when it is locked.

To further improve security, the heads of the screws 4 and 4A are not accessible when the door is closed. The heads of screws 4 are obscured by the door itself and pass through countersunk holes 12A. The heads of screws 4A pass through countersunk holes 12 formed in the face 8 of a removable portion 14. This portion comprises the face 8, upstanding tongues 16 and a perpendicular extension 18 formed at each end of the face. The removable portion fits into a U-shaped channel 19 formed in the lock keep, this channel in combination with the face 8 and extensions 18 form a cuboid which substantially encloses the heads of the screws 4A, thus preventing tampering with or the unscrewing of them.

The removable portion is secured by means of screws 20 which pass through a face 22 of the keep, which forms one side of the U-shaped channel, through connecting holes 23 in tongues 16 of the removable portion, and which are secured in tapped holes 24 in the other side of the channel. In use, lock bolts extend from a lock mechanism mounted on a door, through holes 26 in the face 22, and into the cuboid formed by the channel and the removable portion.

The keep may be made of steel or any other suitable material. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that other arrangements of screw holes and angles will achieve a similar purpose of providing a lock keep with an improved fixing and that the keep may be mounted either on a door frame or on a door. In addition it will be appreciated that such a keep may be used in any application where a lock bolt or suchlike is required to be retained in a secure fashion.

Claims

1. A lock keep for mounting on the edge of a door or door frame , having a pair of inwardly directed securing faces so oriented with respect to each other as to define an included angle, and at least one lock bolt receiving aperture, each of the securing faces having at least one securing hole for receiving a respective fastener penetrating the door or door frame.

2. A keep according to any claim 1 , comprising at least two parts wherein one of the parts overlaps the other to cover the securing hole or holes in at least one of the securing faces, thereby to prevent tampering with fasteners housed in the covered holes.

3. A keep according to claim 2, wherein each part has a plate one side of which forms a respective one of the securing faces, the securing holes being formed in the plates, and wherein one of the parts overlaps the other to cover the hole or holes in the other plate, thereby to prevent tampering with fasteners housed in the covered holes.

4. A keep according to claim 3, wherein the bolt-receiving aperture or apertures are formed in the said overlapping part, and the holes in the said overlapping part and the aperture or apertures are located substantially in a common plane.

5. A keep according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein a first one of the parts includes the said bolt-receiving aperture or apertures and at least one connecting hole formed in substantially the same plane as the aperture or apertures, and wherein the second part has at least one corresponding connecting hole, each being aligned with a connecting hole on the first part for the insertion of at least one connecting fastener through both parts.

6. A keep according to claim 5, wherein the first part has a U-shaped channel which receives the second part, wherein the second part comprises a plate one side of which forms one of the securing faces, and at least one upstanding tongue oriented generally perpendicularly to the said plate, and wherein the connecting hole or holes in the first part are formed in the sides of the U-shaped channel, while the corresponding hole or holes of the second part are formed in the tongue or tongues.

7. A keep according to any preceding claim, wherein the faces lie in planes which intersect along a line of intersection, and each face has a plurality of the said securing holes spaced apart in a direction parallel to the line of intersection and arranged such that the securing holes of one face are displaced with respect to those of the other face in the said direction.

8. A method of fixing a lock keep comprising securing the keep using at least two fasteners which are directed in at least two different directions.

9. A method according to claim 8 for fixing a lock keep to a door frame or door, comprising: providing a lock keep with an inner part having a first securing face with at least one first securing hole for a fastener, and an outer part having a second securing face with at least one second securing hole for a fastener, the second part including a lock-bolt receiving aperture and a cover portion, fastening the inner part to the frame or door with its securing face engaging a face of the frame or door which is parallel to or is constituted by a major face of the door adjacent an edge of the frame or door using at least one fastener passing through the first securing hole or holes and penetrating the frame or door, locating the outer part with its covering portion -covering the inner part and its securing fastener or fasteners, and with the securing face of the second part engaging a face of the frame or door which is perpendicular to the said face receiving the inner part, and fastening the outer part to the frame or door using at least one fastener passing through the second securing hole or holes and penetrating the frame or door in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the fastener or fasteners securing the inner part, thereby retaining the outer part in an overlapping relationship with respect to the inner part by means of fasteners which are hidden when the door is closed in the frame.