GB2299121A

GB2299121A - Security apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2299121A
Application number: GB9505896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Woodhead
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-24
Filing date: 1995-03-24
Publication date: 1996-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-24
Also published as: GB2299121B; GB9505896D0

Abstract

Security apparatus for installation in an aperture in a wall comprises a first frame member 16 fixable to the wall and on which is mounted a second frame member 18 movable relative to the first frame member 16 between open and closed positions. The second frame member 18 is securable in the closed position by securing means (22, Fig 2). The apparatus further includes a covering member 26 which is arranged to extend between the frame members 16, 18 when the second member 18 is in the closed position. The covering member 26 is arranged to be broken or deformed before breakage of the securing means (22) by a force applied to the covering member 26 when the second frame member 18 is secured by the securing means in the closed position. The covering member 26 may be a flange integrally attached by a region of weakness to the member 18, or may be formed separately and connected eg by gluing, rivetting, or snapfitting.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SECURITY APPARATUS This invention relates to security apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to security apparatus for use on window frames.

Windows in buildings are often formed from an outer frame member which is mounted in the window space in the wall, and an inner frame member which is hingedly attached to the outer frame member. A flange extends from inner frame member to the outside frame member across the gap therebetween.

A disadvantage of such windows is that they can easily be opened by a burgler by inserting a lever between the flange and the outer frame member and attempting to force open the window. When sufficient force is applied, the securing means locking the window closed can be broken and the window opened, allowing the burgler to enter the building.

It is an object of this invention to obviate and/or mitigate this disadvantage.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided security apparatus for installation in an aperture or a wall, said apparatus comprising first frame member and a second frame member mounted on the first frame member the first frame member being fixable to the wall, and the second frame member being movable relative to the first frame member in a first direction to an open position and in a second direction to a closed position, the second frame member being securable by securing means in said closed position, and a covering member so arranged to extend between the first and second frame members when the second frame member is in the closed position, wherein the covering member is adapted to be broken or deformed before breakage of said securing means by a force applied in said second direction to said covering member when the second frame member is secured by the securing means in said closed position.

The covering member may be provided on said second frame member, preferably extending around subtantially the whole of the periphery thereof. The covering member may be in the form of a flange extending from said second frame member.

Preferably, the second frame member is hingedly mounted on said first frame member.

When the second frame member is in the closed position a gap may be defined by said first and second frame members, and said covering member may extend across said gap.

The covering member may be integrally attached to said second frame member or formed separately therefrom.

When the covering member is integral with said second frame member a region of weakness may be provided between said covering member and said second member to enable the member to be broken away from the second member when said force is applied as aforesaid. The covering member may also, or alternatively, be formed of a material adapted to deform when said force is applied as aforesaid.

When said covering member is formed separately from said second member, the covering member maybe attached thereto by releasable means to enable said covering member to be broken away from said second member when said force is applied as aforesaid. The releasable means may comprise glue, rivets or other connectors which can be easily broken. The covering member may also, or alternatively, be formed of a material adapted to deform appropriate material capable of deforming when said force is applied as aforesaid.

When the covering member is formed of material capable of deforming when said force is applied aforesaid, said material may be a deformable plastics or metallic material.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a window frame for use in forming a window in a window space in a wall, the window frame comprising a first frame member adapted to be secured to the wall in said window space, a second frame member movable relative to the first frame member in a first direction to an open position and in a second direction to a closed position, securing means to secure the second frame member to the first frame member in said closed position, and a covering member so arranged to extend between the first and second frame members when the second frame member is in the closed position, wherein the covering member is adapted to be broken or deformed before breakage of said securing means by a force applied in said second direction to said covering member when the second frame member is secured by the securing means to the first frame member.

The window frame may have any or all the features of the security apparatus described in paragraphs 6 to 11 above.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a window; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the window shown in Fig.

1; and Figs. 3A to 3G are views of different embodiments of the invention along the lines III-III in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a window 10 in a window space 12 defined in a wall 14. The wall 14 may be, for example, in a house or other building. The window 10 comprises a first outer frame member 16 fixedly mounted in the window space 12, and a second inner frame member 18 hingedly attached to the first frame 16 by hinges 20. A pane of glass 21 is provided in the second frame member 18.

The second frame member 18 can be pivoted about the hinges 20 in a direction out of the page, and can be moved from a closed position, as shown in Fig. 1 to an open position (not shown). A covering member in the form of a flange 26 is provided on the second frame member extending all the way round the second frame member, and also extending across a gap 24 (see also Figs. 3A to 3G) to the first frame member 16.

Referring to Fig. 2, the window frame also includes securing means in the form of a catch 22 adapted to secure the second frame member 18 to the first frame member 16 when the second frame member 18- is in the closed position. The catch 22 is a typical window catch known in the art and is known as a cockspur type catch.

Referring to Figs. 3A to 3G, there is shown various embodiments of the invention. In each of Figs. 3A to 3G, the second frame member 18 is shown in the closed position and a gap 24 is defined between the first and second frame members 16,18. As can be seen from Figs. 3A to 3G, the flange 26 extends from the second frame member 18 across the gap 24 between the frame members 16,18.

Figs. 3A and 3B show first and second frame members 16,18 in the form of aluminium profiles formed by extrusion. The second frame member 18 in Fig. 3A is provided with the flange 26 which is formed separately from the second frame member 18 and attached thereto after formation for example, by any suitable means such as gluing, riveting or any other connector which can be broken easily.

The attachment of the flange 26 shown in Fig. 3A to the frame member 18 is by any suitable means which will enable the flange to be broken off when a force is applied thereto in the direction indicated by the arrow X, for example by applying a lever between the flange 26 and the first frame member 16.

When the second frame member 18 is secured to the first frame member 16 by the catch 22, application of a force in the direction indicated by the arrow X to the flange 26 will result in the flange 26 breaking away from the first member 18 before catch 22 is broken thereby preventing opening of the window.

In Fig. 3B, the flange 26 is formed integrally with the second frame member 18, and a region of weakness 28 is provided between the flange 26 and the second frame member 18. Thus, when the second frame member is secured to the first frame member 16 and a force is applied to the flange 26 in the direction of the arrow X the flange 26 will break away from the second frame member 18 before the catch 22 is broken, and opening of the window will be prevented.

Figs. 3C to 3D show frame members 18,16 formed of UPVC. In Fig. 3C, the flange 26 is formed separately from the second frame member 18 and attached thereto by suitable means such as gluing, riveting or other means capable of being broken easily. As with the embodiments shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, when the second frame member 18 is secured to the first frame member 16, and a force is applied to the flange 26 in the direction of the arrow X, the flange 26 will break away from the second frame member 18 before the securing means is broken, thereby preventing the window from being opened.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3D and 3E, the flange 26 in each case is formed separately from the second frame member 18 and, as can be seen, is provided with cooperating formations 30 which can be received in a recess 32 in the second frame member 18. The cooperating formations 30 can extend along the length of the flange 26 or can be provided intermittently along its length.

When the second frame member 18 is secured to the frame member 16 and the force is applied to the flange 26 in the direction of the arrow X, the flange 26 will be broken away from the second frame member 18 before the securing means is broken, thereby preventing the window from being opened. In order to attach the flange 26 as shown in Figs. 3D and 3E, to the second frame member 18 the cooperating formations 30 can either be slid along the recess 32, or the flange 42 can be inserted by pushing the flange 26 in the direction indicated by the arrow Y.

Figs. 3F and 3G show further embodiments of the invention formed from wood. In Fig. 3F, the flange 26 is formed separately from the second frame member 18 and is attached thereto by suitable means, for example glue, riveting, or other connector capable of being broken easily such as a pin. As shown in Fig. 3F, the flange 26 is secured by a plurality of pins 34 extending along its length.

In Fig. 3G, the flange 26 is formed integrally with the second frame member 18 and is provided with a region of weakness 36.

In each of Figs. 3F,3G, a force applied to the flange 26 in the direction of the arrow X when the second frame member 18 is secured to the first frame member 18 results in the flange 26 being broken away from the second frame member 18 before the catch 22 is broken thereby preventing the window from opening.

Thus, in all the embodiments shown, a potential burgler attempting to lever open a window by placing a lever between the flange 26 and the first frame member 16 will not succeed in opening the window, because the flange 26 will break away from the second frame member 18 before the catch 22 is broken.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, the profiles of the frame member 16,18 shown in Figs. 3A to 3G could be of different shapes. In each of the above Figs. 3A to 3C, the flange 26 could be formed of a material capable of deforming when the force is applied in the direction of the arrow X before the catch 22 is broken. This feature could be in addition to, or as an alternative to the features disclosed above for connecting the flange 26 to the second frame member 18.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Security apparatus for installation in an aperture in a wall, said apparatus comprising a first frame member and a second frame member mounted on the first frame member, the first frame member being fixable to the wall, and the second frame member being movable relative to the first frame member in a first direction to an open position and in a second direction to a closed position, the second frame member being securable by securing means in said closed position, and a covering member so arranged to extend between the first and second frame members when the second frame member is in the closed position, wherein the covering member is adapted to be broken or deformed before breakage of said securing means by a force applied in substantially said second direction to said covering member when the second frame member is secured by the securing means in said closed position.

2. Security apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the covering member may be provided on said second frame member.

3. Security apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the covering member extends around subtantially the whole of the periphery thereof.

4. Security apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the covering member is in the form of a flange extending from said second frame member.

5. Security apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the second frame member is hingedly mounted on said first frame member.

6. Security apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein when the second frame member is in the closed position a gap is defined by said first and second frame members, and said covering member extends across said gap.

7. Security apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the covering member is either integrally attached to said second frame member or formed separately therefrom.

8. Security apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein when the covering member is integral with said second frame member a region of weakness is provided between said covering member and said second member to enable the covering member to be broken away from the second member when said force is applied as aforesaid.

9. Security apparatus according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein the covering member is formed of a material adapted to deform when said force is applied as aforesaid.

10. Security apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein when said covering member is formed separately from said second member, the covering member is attached thereto by releasable means to enable said covering member to be broken away from said second member when said force is applied as aforesaid.

11. Security apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein the releasable means comprises an adhesive material, rivets or other connectors which can be easily broken.

12. Security apparatus according to any of Claims 7,10 or 11 wherein the covering member is formed of a material capable of deforming when said force is applied as aforesaid.

13. Security apparatus according to Claim 9 or 12 wherein said material may be a deformable plastics or metallic material.

14. A window frame for use in forming a window in a window space in a wall, the window frame comprising a first frame member adapted to be secured to the wall in said window space, a second frame member movable relative to the first frame member in a first direction to an open position and in a second direction to a closed position, securing means to secure the second frame member to the first frame member in said closed position, and a covering member so arranged to extend between the first and second frame members when the second frame member is in the closed position, wherein the covering member is adapted to be broken or deformed before breakage of said securing means by a force applied in said second direction to said covering member when the second frame member is secured by the securing means to the first frame member.

15. A window frame according to Claim 14 comprising any or all of the features of Claims 1 to 13.

16. Security apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. A window frame substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.