GB2298226A

GB2298226A - A keeper assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2298226A
Application number: GB9503369A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Alexander Gordon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-21
Filing date: 1995-02-21
Publication date: 1996-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-21
Also published as: GB9503369D0; GB2298226B

Abstract

A lock assembly comprises a latch receiving means 10. The latch receiving means 10 is adapted to fit within a slot 11 formed in an outer frame of a door or window in which a lock is to be fitted. The latch receiving means comprises a latch receiving portion 12 which in turn comprises a box 13. The latch receiving portion 12 comprises first attachment means 14 and second attachment means 15 each of which attachment means 14, 15 comprises a first portion 16 and a second portion 17. Portion 16, 17 are spaced apart from one another and each second attachment means 15 is shaped such that the second attachment means 15 may be attached to the outer frame 18 such that the first portion 16 engages with an upper surface 19 of the outer frame and a second portion 17 engages with the lower surface 20 of the outer frame.

Description

I,()CK ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a lock assembly for locking a door or window securely in place in an outer frame and of the type comprising a latch, and latch receiving means positionable within the outer frame. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively to a lock assembly for securely locking a window or door formed from UPVC in position in an outer frame.

In a lock assembly of this type, the latch is often mounted on a shank of a handle used to open a door or window. The latch receiving portion is mountable in an outer frame in which the door or window is hingeably mounted. The latch may move between a first unlocked position in which the door or window may be freely opened and closed, and a second, locked position in which the door or window may be locked in either a closed or partially open state. When the door or window is locked, the latch extends from the door or window frame into the latch receiving portion of the outer frame. The latch receiving portion comprises an aperture and a keep positioned over the aperture.

A lock of this type is described in our co-pending UK patent application no 2270537, the contents of which are included in the present application by reference thereto.

The latch receiving portion comprises an aperture or box into which the latch is received and attachment means for attaching the latch receiving portion to the outer frame.

A problem with a lock assembly of this type is that it can be difficult to install the box which must be fixedly attached to the outer frame of the door or window in which the lock assembly is to be fittcd.

A further disadvantage o a lock assembly of this type is that the latch receiving portion is fixedly installed into an outer frame of a door or window by means of screws which are screwed directly into the outcr frame. A person attempting to gain unauthorised access to a building may be able to dislodge the lock assembly from the door or window of which it is installed by tacking the screws which screw the latch receiving means into the outer frame.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a lock assembly comprising: a latch; a latch receiving means, receivable within an aperture formed in an outer frame of a door or window, the latch receiving means comprising: comprises first attachment portion integrally formed with the latch receiving means, and a second separately formed attachment portion shaped to be engageable with the outer frame and with the first attachment means.

a latch receiving portion for receiving the latch when the lock is in a locked position, and attachment means adapted to allow attachment of the latch receiving means to the outer frame in which it is mounted, characterised in that the attachment means comprises first attachment portion integrally formed with the latch receiving means, and a second separately formed attachment portion shaped to be engageable with the outer frame and with the first attachment means.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a latch receiving means forming part of a lock assembly, the lock assembly having a latch, the latch receiving means being receivable within an aperture formed in an outer frame of a door or window and comprising: a latch receiving portion for receiving the latch when the lock is in a locked position, and attachment means adapted to allow attachment of the latch receiving means to the outer frame in which it is mounted, characterised in that the attachment means comprises first attachment portion integrally formed with the latch receiving means, and a second separately formed attachment portion shaped to be engageable with the outer frame and with the first attachment means.

The presence of the attachment means which is formed in two parts results in a more secure attachment of the latch receiving means to the outer frame in which it is mounted.

In use, an aperture or slot of appropriate dimensions will be formed in an outer frame of a door or window The second attachment means will be inserted into the slot such that the second attachment means engages with the outer frame.

Conveniently the latch receiving portion comprises first and second attachment means positioned at opposite ends of the latch receiving means. Each of the first and second attachment means comprises first and second attachment portions.

Advantageously the second attachment means comprises first and second portions spaced apart from one another Preferably, the second attachment means is formed from a resilient material. The first and second portions of the attachment means are biassed towards one another such that either the first and second portions abut with one another, or they are positioned in close proximity to one another, the distance between the first and second attachment portions being substantially less than the thickness of the outer frame, at least along part of the length of the first and second attachment portions.

In use, the first and second attachment portions may be pulled apart to allow the second attachment means to grippingly engage with the outer frame.

Preferably, the first attachment means is shaped to engage with the first portion of the second attachment means on a first surface of the outer frame, with the second portion of the second attachment means being engageable with an opposite surface of the outer frame.

Conveniently the first and second attachment means each comprise a screw receiving portion each of which screw receiving portions are substantially aligned with one another when the first attachment means is engaged with the second attachment means. Screws may thus be inserted through both screw receiving means in each of the first and second attachment means.

The latch receiving means of the present invention may thus be securely fitted into an outer frame of a door or window in which a lock is to be installed, and it will be more difficult for a person seeking unauthorised entry into a building to dislodge the lock assembly according to the present invention.

Advantageously the latch receiving means is formed from a plastics material.

Conveniently the lock assembly further comprises a keep fittable over the latch receiving means.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic partially exploded representation of the latch receiving means of a lock assembly according to the present invention; Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are schematic representations of a second attachment means for forming part of the latch receiving means of Figure 1. Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are schematic representations of the latch receiving portion of the latch receiving means of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a keep suitable for use with the latch receiving means for Figure 1; and Figures Sa, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e are schematic representations illustrating how the components forming the latch receiving means of Figure 1 interlock.

Referring to Figure 1 a latch receiving means forming part of a lock assembly 100 is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The latch receiving means 10 is adapted to fit within a slot 11 formed in an outer frame of a door or window in which a lock is to be fitted. The latch receiving means comprises a latch receiving portion 12. The latch receiving portion 12 comprises a box 13 in which a latch may be positioned when a lock is in a locked position. The latch receiving portion further comprises first attachment means 14 integrally formed with the latch receiving portion 12. The latch receiving means 10 additionally comprises second attachment means 15 each of which comprises a first portion 16 and a second portion 17. Portions 16, 17 are spaced apart from one another and each second attachment means 15 is shaped such that the second attachment means 15 may be attached to the outer frame 18 such that the first portion 16 engages with an upper surface 19 of the outer frame and a second portion 17 engages with a lower surface (not shown) of the outer frame.

The second attachment means 15 is formed from a resilient material such as a plastics material, and the first and second portions 16, 17 are based in a position in which they are either in contact with each other, or in close proximity to one another. In order to secure the second attachment means to the outer frame the two portions 16, 17 may be pulled apart from one another in order to increase the gap between the two portions. This allows the second attachment means 15 to be positioned on the outer frame. The two portions 16, 17 may then be released such that the portions 16, 17 grip the outer frame. The second attachment means 15 will be pushed onto the outer frame such that an edge 20 defining an edge of the slot 11 will abut against surface 21 of the second attachment means 15.

Once each of the second attachment means 15 is in place, the latch receiving portion 12 is positioned such that the box 13 is located within slot 11 formed in the outer frame 18, and first attachment means- 14 are each positioned such that they engage with a respective second attachment means 15. The second attachment means 15 are each shaped to have a first attachment means receiving portion 21. When the latch receiving portion 12 is in place, each of the first attachment means 14 will be positioned within a first attachment means receiving portion 21 of a respective second attachment means 15. Each of the first and second attachment means, 14,15 comprises screw receiving portions 22.

When the latch receiving portion 12 is appropriately positioned, the screw receiving portions 22 will be substantially aligned with one another. The latch receiving means may be secured in place in the outer frame by means of screws which extend through the screw receiving portions of the first attachment means and the second attachment means. This results in secure attachment of the latch receiving means.

Referring to Figures 2a, 2b and 2c, the second attachment means 15 is shown in more detail. The second attachment means comprises first and second portions 16 and 17 which define a gap 25 between the two portions 16, 17. The second attachment means 15 is formed from a resilient material, and thus the first and second portion 16, 17 may be pulled apart from one another to increase the dimensions of the gap 25. When the portion 16, 17 are released, they will spring back towards each other. When the second attachment means 15 is positioned on an outer frame, as the portion 16, 17 spring back to one another, the frame will be gripped by the second attachment means 15.

The portion 16 comprises a frame which defines a first attachment receiving portion 26 which is shaped to receive the first receiving portion 14 in such a way that the screw ports 22 in the first attachment means 14 is substantially aligned with the screw ports 22 in the second attachment means.

Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show in more detail the latch receiving portion 12 which comprises box 13 and first attachment means 14.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a keep for use with the latch receiving means of the present invention. The keep 40 is adapted to receive a hook-shaped latch of the type described in our co-pending UK patent application no 2270537.

Different designs of keep and differently shaped latches may be used with the latch receiving means of the present invention.

The keep is generally made of a metal, and will be covered by a cover 50 shown in more detail in Figure 5c.

The cover 50 will generally be made from a plastics material.

When the lock of the present invention is to be used to received hook shaped latch of the type described in our copending UK patent application number 2270537, it is the cover 50 rather than the keep 40 which may be shaped to provide compression to the hook lock in its locked position. This is advantageous in that the costs involved in manufacturing the keep are reduced. In addition, rather than a metal hook lock coming into moving contact with a metal keep, the hook will now come into contact with the cover 50 made of a plastics material. This provides a smoother contact between the hook and the cover, and reduces wear and tear on the lock.

Figures 5a, 5b, Sc, 5d and 5e show how the various components forming the latch receiving means of the present invention interlock with one another.

The second attachment means 16 are shaped to allow the second attachment means to abut with the box 13. The assembly may further comprise a keep cover shown in Figure Sc which is pressed over the keeper. The whole assembly may then be screwed together.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lock assembly comprising: a latch; a latch receiving means, receivable within an aperture formed in an outer frame of a door or window, the latch receiving means comprising: further a latch receiving portion for receiving the latch when the lock is in a locked position, an attachment means adapted to allow attachment of the latch receiving means to the outer frame in which it is mounted, and characterised in that the attachment means comprises a first attachment portion integrally formed with the latch receiving means, and a second separately formed attachment portion shaped to be engageable with the outer frame and with the first attachment means.

2. A latch receiving means forming part of a lock assembly, the lock assembly having a latch, the latch receiving means being receivable within an aperture formed in an outer frame of a door or window and comprising: a latch receiving portion for receiving the latch when the lock is in a locked position, and attachment means adapted to allow attachment of the latch receiving means to the outer frame in which it is mounted, characterised in that the attachment means comprises a first attachment portion integrally formed with the latch receiving means, and a second separately formed attachment portion shaped to be engageable with the outer frame and with the first attachment means.

3. A lock assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the latch receiving portion comprises first and second attachment means positioned at opposite ends of the latch receiving means.

4. A lock assembly according to Claim 3, wherein each of the first and second attachment means comprises first and second attachment portions.

5. A lock assembly according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the second attachment means comprises first and second portions spaced apart from one another.

6. A lock assembly according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the second attachment means is formed from a resilient material.

7. A lock assembly according to Claim 6, wherein the first and second portions of the second attachment means are biased towards one another such that either the first and second portions abut with one another, or they are positioned in close proximity to one another, the distance between the first and second attachment portions being substantially less than the thickness of the outer frame at least along part of the length of the first and second attachment portions.

8. A lock assembly according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the first attachment means is shaped to engage with the first portion of the second attachment means on a first surface of the outer frame, with the second portion of the second attachment means being engageable with an opposite surface of the outer frame.

9. A lock assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the first and second attachment means each comprises a screw receiving portion, each of which screw receiving portions is substantially aligned with one another when the first attachment means is engaged with the second attachment means.

10. A lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch receiving means is formed from a plastics material.

11. A lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a keep fittable over the latch receiving means.

12. A lock assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the second attachment means is insertable into a slot in an outer frame of a door or window such that the second attachment means engages with the outer frame.

13. A lock assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A latch receiving means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.