GB2311091A - Connector for a shootbolt - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector (10) for connecting a shootbolt (60) to a latchmember (40), comprises an elongate body (11). A threaded bore (22) is provided at one end (16) of the body (11), for attachment of a shootbolt (60) A locating channel (32,34) is defined in the other end (17) of the body (11), and extends transversely from one side (12) of the body (11). A locating recess (36) is defined in the body (11) spaced from said other end (17) of the body (11). The locating recess (36) is parallel with the channel and extends from said one side (12) of the body (11). The connector (10) may be used with wire-operated latch mechanisms.

Description

A CONNECTOR FOR A SHOOTBOLT The present invention concerns a connector for a shootbolt, particularly but not exclusively a connector for a shootbolt arranged to slide vertically in a door or window.

A common way of securing a door in a frame is to provide two bolts movable in a vertical channel of a door such that one bolt may slide into engagement with a recess in the frame above the door, and the other bolt may slide into engagement with a recess in the frame below the door. An actuator is provided in the door which comprises two retractable latch members; on operation of the actuator, for example by turning a handle thereof, the latch members move oppositely in the vertical direction. Accordingly, by linking the latch members to the bolts, the door may be secured in the frame.

One means of linking a bolt with a latch member comprises hooking a piece of wire therebetween. Wire is not very suitable in compression since it may buckle, and thus a return spring may be provided to urge the shoot bolt into the recess-engaging position. Operation of the actuator retracts the bolts to release the door, the wire being in tension. A spring loaded bolt may scratch the floor if a catch is not incorporated in the actuator.

Manufacturers are discouraged from applying such an arrangement to a door because of the perceived fragility of a length of wire, and the difficulty of providing adjustment to suit doors and windows of different height.

An alternative arrangement comprises an elongate bolt extending from the latch members to the upper (or lower as the case may be) edge of the door. Such a bolt is generally known as a shootbolt. Since a shootbolt is rigid, it can bear compressive force axially without the need for complicated spring-loaded return mechanisms.

The shootbolt translates motion of its associated latch member to the edge of the door. Attachment of the shootbolt to the respective latch member must however be simple, secure and cost effective; it should preferably have provision for adjustment of the length of the shootbolt. It is one object of the present invention to provide a connector for a shootbolt which is attachable to an actuator for wire operated bolts.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a connector for a shootbolt, the connector comprising an elongate body, attachment means at one end thereof for attachment of a shootbolt thereto, a locating channel defined in the other end of the body which extends transversely from one side of the body and a locating recess defined in said body spaced from said other end of said body, parallel with said channel and extending from said one side of said body. The connector is advantageous in that it supports the connector against movement with respect to the latch member in directions other than the attachment direction. Furthermore it allows a shootbolt to be attached to a latch member adapted to a wire operated bolt, and thus permits the latch mechanism to be fitted without modification to wire operated or shootbolt locking systems.

A known latch member which is adapted for use with a length of wire comprises a first member in which is defined a throughbore perpendicular to the axis of movement of the latch member, and a second member, between which first and second members is defined a Ushaped channel parallel with the axis of movement of the latch member. In use, a portion of the wire is turned through a right angle to form a substantially L-shaped end hook. The hook is fed into the throughbore and the wire is laid within the U-shaped channel to retain the wire in the throughbore.

The connector of the present invention may be fitted to the latch member whereby the locating channel receives the first member of the latch member and the locating recess receives the second member.

The locating recess may comprise a channel along a side of the body perpendicular to the side from which the channel extends.

The locating recess may provide surfaces for the transmission of axial force between the connector and a latch member in use.

The locating channel may be defined between first and second locating members projecting substantially longitudinally from said other end of the body. The second locating member may comprise a longitudinally extending base and a laterally extending lug directed away from the first locating member, the locating recess being defined between the lug and said body.

Preferably, the connector is adapted to receive a cover engageable therewith, the cover being co-planar with one side of said body and shielding the shootbolt in use.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a connector for a shootbolt, the connector comprising an elongate body, a longitudinal bore extending therein from one end and threaded for engagement of a shootbolt, and locating means at the other end of the body for attachment of a connector for axial movement with a latch member wherein the elongate body is cut away from one side to the longitudinal bore.

The longitudinal bore should be sufficiently long to allow for variations in the length of a shootbolt with which the connector may be fitted. The relieving of the elongate body obviates the need to thread the full length of a blind bore, there being throughbore between the end and the relieved part of the body. Preferably the body is relieved by means of a longitudinal slot along said side. The slot may be obround. This is advantageous as the slot may then be formed by a rotated milling tool.

The locating means may comprise a longitudinally extending locating member and a retaining member comprising a laterally extending lug spaced away from said other end and directed away from said locating member.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a connector for a shootbolt, the connector comprising an elongate body, attachment means at one end of the body for attachment of a shootbolt thereto, locating means at the other end of the body for attachment of the connector for axial movement of a latch member therewith, and an elongate cover engaged for axial movement therewith, the cover being substantially coplanar with a side of the elongate body.

A specific preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings in which: Fig.1 shows a front view of a connector according to the invention; Fig.2 shows a back view of the connector of Fig.1; Fig.3 shows an end view of the connector of Fig.1 as viewed from the top of Fig.1; Fig.4 shows an end view of the connector of Fig.1 as viewed from the bottom of Fig.1; Fig.5 shows a side elevation of the connector of Fig.1 as viewed from the right of Fig.1; Fig.6 shows a side elevation of the connector of Fig.1 as viewed from the left of Fig.1; Fig.7 shows a portion of a door distal its hinge and at the top corner thereof, in cross-section in the plane of the door, and a closure apparatus of the door, including the connector of Fig.1; Fig.8 shows a side elevation of a latchbolt of the closure apparatus of Fig.7; Fig.9 shows a front elevation of the latchbolt of Fig.8; Fig.10 shows a plan of the latchbolt of Fig.8; Fig.11 shows a partial cross-section as indicated by arrows XI-XI shown in Fig.7; and Fig.12 shows an arrangement of the latchbolt as shown in Fig.9, and a wire, which does not form part of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a connector 10 comprises an elongate body 11. The body 11 is of substantially square section, and has a front 12, a back 13, two sides 14,15, an attachment end 16 and a locating end 17. The sides 14,15 are symmetrically longitudinally, and stepped inwardly from the front 12 to the back 13 such that the front 12 is somewhat wider than the back 13. A longitudinally extending obround channel 20 is defined in the body from the back 13. A threaded bore 22 of smaller diameter than the width of the channel 20, and co-axial therewith, extends longitudinally through the body 11 from the attachment end 16 to the channel 20.

Accordingly, a threaded shaft engaged with the bore 22 may extend beyond the bore 22 and into the channel 20.

Each side 14,15 includes a respective longitudinal groove 23,24 adjacent the front 12 extending from level the end of the channel 20 adjacent the attachment end 16 to the attachment end 16 itself. The grooves 23,24 are adapted to receive in an interference fit in-turned ribs of a Csection cover. The cover is described later with reference to Figures 7 and 11. The portion of the front 12 between the grooves is relieved so that the cover described below is flush with the front 12.

The locating end 17 is defined by a lateral surface and comprises a locating member 30 and a locating lug 33 projecting therefrom. The locating member 30 projects longitudinally of the body 11, and is defined between a stepped side 15, an inner surface 32 parallel with the stepped side 15, and the front 12 and the back 13 of the body. The lug 33 also projects longitudinally of the body 11, and to the same extent as the locating member 30. The lug 33 is defined by the front 12 and the other side 14 of the body, an inner surface 34 parallel with and facing the inner surface 32 of the locating member 30, and another face 35 parallel with and substantially halfway between the front 12 and back 13 of the body 11.

Accordingly, the inner surface 32 of the locating member 30, the inner surface 34 of the lug 33 and the lateral surface of the locating end define a rectangular channel between the locating member 30 and the lug 33.

The lug 33 further comprises a retaining channel 36 of rectangular profile defined therein and extending transversely along the side 14 of the body 11 from the front 12 to the face 35. The channel 36 is defined between the lateral surface of the locating end 17 and a retaining surface 37 parallel therewith.

A latch assembly generally comprises two latch members which, on operation of the assembly, are urged co-axially apart. In that way, bolts at either end of a door may be urged into respective recesses in the floor below and lintel above the door.

Figures 8 to 10 illustrate a portion of an exemplary latchbolt 40. For clarity, only the portion of the latchbolt 40 protruding from the latchbolt assembly is shown. The latchbolt 40 comprises a substantially square sidewall 42 parallel with the direction of movement of the bolt 40, a substantially square backwall 43 perpendicular to the sidewall 42 and also parallel with the direction of movement of the bolt 40, and a substantially square end wall 44 perpendicular to the sidewall 42 and the backwall 43. The three walls 42,43 & 44 adjoin each other to define three sides of a cube. The sidewall 42 has a circular bore 45 defined therethrough; the end wall 44 has a U-shaped slot 46 defined therein extending perpendicular to the backwall 43.

As shown in Fig.12, for wire operation a wire 47 leading to a bolt at one end of a door has a right angle end hook 48 engaged in the bore 45 and located in the U-shaped slot 46. When the latch member 40 is pulled in the downward direction of Figs.9 and 10, the hook 48 abuts the sidewall of the bore 45, and the wire 47 is moved in unison with the latch member 40. As described in the introduction, there should generally be a return spring at the bolt end of the wire 47 so that when the latch member 40 is urged upwardly, the hook 48 follows the bore 45.

In use, the connector 10 as described above allows a shootbolt to be fitted to an existing latch member which otherwise could be used with the wire arrangement. As shown in Figure 7, the latchbolt 40 is engaged with the location end of the connector such that the sidewall 42 of the latchbolt 40 is inserted between the locating member 30 and the lug 33, and the lug 33 is located within the U-shaped channel 46, the end wall 44 being engaged in the retaining channel 36. Thereby, the latchbolt 40 and the connector 10 are engaged for mutual axial movement.

As shown in Figures 7 and 11, a door 100 comprises a vertical channel 102 running along the length of the edge distal the hinge. The channel 102 is stepped inwardly so that it has substantially the same profile as the connector 10. The connector 10 is able to slide in the channel 102. A latchbolt assembly 47 is mounted in the door at a convenient height, the latchbolt assembly 47 as described above comprising two latchbolts 40 which are arranged to move longitudinally in the slot 102. Only the upper one of the latchbolts is illustrated in Figure 7.

The connector 10 is engaged with the latchbolt 40 in the manner described above. The lateral surface of the locating end 17 of the connector 10 and the ends of the locating member 30 and the locating lug 33 each define abutment surfaces through one or more of which forces resulting from the latch member 40 moving out of the latchbolt assembly 49 may be transferred to the connectors 10. Similarly, the retaining surface 37 of the lug 33 defines an abutment surface through which forces resulting from the latch member 40 being retracted into the latchbolt assembly 49 may be transferred to the connector 10. Accordingly, the connector 10 and the latch member 40 are engaged for axial movement in unison.

To provide improved fastening, a pin (not shown) may be inserted through a throughbore of the locating end 17 and the throughbore 45 thereby fixing the bracket 10 and the latchbolt 40 together by means of an interference fit.

A shootbolt 60 is provided, the shootbolt 60 comprising an elongate shaft of circular cross-section, having at one end thereof a threaded portion. The threaded portion is engaged with the threaded bore 22 of the connector 10.

Accordingly the shootbolt 60 may be selectively moved up and down relative to the door 100. The end 62 of the shootbolt 60 distal the connector is substantially at the upper edge of the door; as illustrated the distal end 62 is positioned entirely within the channel 102 of the door 100; on movement of the shootbolt 60 upwardly, the end 62 projects beyond the upper edge of the door and can be engaged in a corresponding recess 112 in a lintel 110 above the door, causing engagement of the door relative to the lintel 110.

An elongate cover 50 of generally C-shaped cross-section and having an in-turned lip at each edge, is clipped in the grooves 23,24 of the connector 10 in an interference fit. The cover 50 extends parallel to the shootbolt. It prevents debris from entering the mechanism, and restricts access to the shootbolt. It also presents a more aesthetically pleasing appearance to the edge of the door. The cover 50 is movable in unison with the shootbolt.

One or more guide blocks 70 (only one is shown in Figure 7) are provided along the channel to guide the shootbolt 60 and the cover 50. The guide block 70 has substantially the same profile as the attachment end of the connector 10 (see Figure 4) but the grooves are deeper and the throughbore wider so as to allow the cover and shootbolt to slide freely therethrough. The guide block 70 is fixed in the channel by any suitable means, for example screws.

The above-described embodiment is provided by way of example only; no restriction to the scope of protection is implied thereby.

The connector of the invention is useful in that it allows use of shootbolts with latch mechanisms otherwise only suitable for such use with wires.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:

1. A connector for a shootbolt, the connector comprising an elongate body; attachment means at one end of the body for attachment of a shootbolt thereto; a locating channel defined in the other end of the body and extending transversely from one side of the body; and a locating recess defined in said body, spaced from said other end, parallel with said channel, and extending from said one side.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a longitudinal bore extending from said one end and having an internal screw thread for engagement of a shootbolt, and wherein the screw thread is relieved from said one side at the inner end thereof.

3. A connector for a shootbolt, the connector comprising an elongate body, a longitudinal bore extending therein from one end and threaded for engagement of a shootbolt, and locating means at the other end of the body for attachment of a connector for axial movement with a latch member, wherein the elongate body is relieved from one side to the longitudinal bore.

4. A connector according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the body is relieved by means of a longitudinal slot extending in the body along said side.

5. A connector according to claim 4 wherein the slot has parallel sides and semi-circular ends.

6. A connector according to any preceding claim wherein the connector is adapted to receive a cover engageable therewith, the cover being co-planar with one side of the body and shielding the shootbolt in use.

7. A connector for a shootbolt, the connector comprising an elongate body, attachment means at one end of the body for attachment of a shootbolt thereto, locating means at the other end of the body for attachment of the connector for axial movement of a latch member therewith, and an elongate cover engaged for axial movement therewith, the cover being substantially co-planar with a side of said body.

8. A connector according to claim 3 or claim 7 wherein the locating means comprises a locating channel defined in said other end and extending transversely from one side of the body, and a locating recess defined in said body spaced from said other end, parallel with said channel and extending from one side of said body.

9. A connector according to claims 1, 2 or 8 wherein the locating recess comprises a retaining channel along a side of the body perpendicular to the side from which the retaining channel extends.

10. A connector according to claims 1, 2, 8 or 9 wherein the locating channel is defined between first and second locating members projecting substantially longitudinally from said other end.

11. A connector according to claim 10 wherein the second locating member comprises a longitudinally extending base and a laterally extending lug directed away from the first locating member, the locating recess being defined between the lug and said body.

12. A connector for a shootbolt, substantially as described herein, with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.